Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Duluth, MN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn a median $36,680 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,509 take-home, or $2,542 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Duluth, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,222
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,274
- Medicare (1.45%)$532
- Minnesota income tax$1,144
- Take-home pay$30,509
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
The Duluth, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Duluth, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,100 | $13.99 | $24,824 | $2,069 |
| 25th percentile | $32,610 | $15.68 | $27,456 | $2,288 |
| Median (50th) | $36,680 | $17.63 | $30,509 | $2,542 |
| 75th percentile | $41,330 | $19.87 | $33,996 | $2,833 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,390 | $21.82 | $37,041 | $3,087 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,680 buys in Duluth, MN
Prices in Duluth, MN are 11.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,509 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,369 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Duluth, MN has 1.3× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Duluth, MN ranks #37 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 37 | Duluth, MN | $36,680 | $30,509 | $34,369 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Minnesota
- Rochester, MN — $38,150
- St. Cloud, MN — $36,270
- Mankato, MN — $37,190
- Minneapolis, MN — $39,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Duluth, MN?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area is $36,680 a year, or about $17.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,610 and $41,330.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Duluth, MN?
On the median $36,680 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $30,509 a year ($2,542 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,144 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Duluth, MN a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,369 would in a typical U.S. city. Duluth, MN ranks #37 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Duluth, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Duluth, MN is $978 a month ($1,232 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Duluth, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,860
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $40,300
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,880
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,010
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,260
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $26,900
- Bartender — $23,540
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,150