Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Minneapolis, MN
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $44,830 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,621 take-home, or $3,052 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,200
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,779
- Medicare (1.45%)$650
- Minnesota income tax$1,580
- Take-home pay$36,621
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Minneapolis, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,550 | $17.57 | $30,411 | $2,534 |
| 25th percentile | $39,280 | $18.88 | $32,459 | $2,705 |
| Median (50th) | $44,830 | $21.55 | $36,621 | $3,052 |
| 75th percentile | $47,490 | $22.83 | $38,616 | $3,218 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,180 | $26.05 | $43,553 | $3,629 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,830 buys in Minneapolis, MN
Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 4.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $36,621 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,936 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Minneapolis, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Minneapolis, MN ranks #5 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Minneapolis, MN?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $44,830 a year, or about $21.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,280 and $47,490.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?
On the median $44,830 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $36,621 a year ($3,052 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,580 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,936 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #5 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Minneapolis, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Minneapolis, MN is $1,396 a month ($1,700 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Minneapolis, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,110
- Cooks, Restaurant — $39,640
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,420
- Cooks, Fast Food — $36,380
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,100
- Dishwasher — $34,940
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $33,040
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $30,600
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,380
- Bartender — $27,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $25,920