SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Rochester
Rochester, MN · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Rochester, MN is $62,520 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 Rochester, MN is $62,520 per year, close to the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $50,160 and $78,820. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $47,860 and the ninetieth at $98,760.
Employment stands at 90, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Minneapolis records the highest median at $63,240. Of the 312 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 160th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,860 | −23.4% |
| 25th | $50,160 | −19.7% |
| Median (50th) | $62,520 | +0.1% |
| 75th | $78,820 | +26.2% |
| 90th | $98,760 | +58.1% |
| Mean | $67,020 | +7.3% |
Other metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $63,240 | 1,280 | |
| 2 | St. Cloud | $60,500 | 40 | |
| 3 | Mankato | $60,050 | 30 | |
| 4 | Duluth | $56,790 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rochester sit close to the national average, so $62,520 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$62,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,408US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,520 a year, 0.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,860 to $98,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 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 Rochester, MN?
The median annual wage is $62,520, or $30.06 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 Rochester, MN is 0.1% higher. 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 Rochester, MN earns more than $98,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,860 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 90 jobs in this occupation in Rochester, 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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