SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Minnesota
Minnesota · 5 metro areas compared
In Minnesota the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $43,460 a year, which is 16.0% higher than the national figure of $37,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Minnesota the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria is $43,460 a year, which is 16.0% higher than the national figure of $37,450. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $37,840 and $46,590. The lowest tenth earn under $35,520, while the highest tenth earn more than $52,140.
The area has 7,890 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.94 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Minnesota ranks number 16th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Minneapolis records the highest median at $44,830. Of the 721 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 632nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,520 | −5.2% |
| 25th | $37,840 | +1.0% |
| Median (50th) | $43,460 | +16.0% |
| 75th | $46,590 | +24.4% |
| 90th | $52,140 | +39.2% |
| Mean | $43,050 | +15.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $44,830 | 4,490 | |
| 2 | Rochester | $43,160 | 330 | |
| 3 | St. Cloud | $40,590 | 300 | |
| 4 | Mankato | $40,410 | 150 | |
| 5 | Duluth | $40,300 | 530 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Minnesota sit close to the national average, so $43,460 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$43,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$44,077US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,460 a year, 16.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,520 to $52,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,890 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 16th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Minneapolis, at $44,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Minnesota?
The median annual wage is $43,460, or $20.90 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 $37,450, so pay in Minnesota is 16.0% 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 Minnesota earns more than $52,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,520 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 $44,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,890 jobs in this occupation in Minnesota. 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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