SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Mankato
Mankato, MN · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Mankato, MN is $60,050 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Mankato, MN is $60,050 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $46,810 at the tenth percentile to more than $80,430 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $47,410 to $76,090.
Employment stands at 30, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Minneapolis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,240. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 136th of 246 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,810 | −25.1% |
| 25th | $47,410 | −24.1% |
| Median (50th) | $60,050 | −3.9% |
| 75th | $76,090 | +21.8% |
| 90th | $80,430 | +28.7% |
| Mean | $61,110 | −2.2% |
Other metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $63,240 | 1,280 | |
| 2 | Rochester | $62,520 | 90 | |
| 3 | St. Cloud | $60,500 | 40 | |
| 4 | Duluth | $56,790 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Mankato sit close to the national average, so $60,050 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$60,050as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$60,903US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,050 a year, 3.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,810 to $80,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Minneapolis, at $63,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Mankato, MN?
The median annual wage is $60,050, or $28.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Mankato, MN is 3.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Mankato, MN earns more than $80,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,810 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Minneapolis, at $63,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Mankato, MN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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