Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Minneapolis, MN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $39,640 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,729 take-home, or $2,727 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,577
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,458
- Medicare (1.45%)$575
- Minnesota income tax$1,302
- Take-home pay$32,729
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, Restaurant pay by experience in Minneapolis, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,310 | $16.98 | $29,481 | $2,457 |
| 25th percentile | $37,110 | $17.84 | $30,831 | $2,569 |
| Median (50th) | $39,640 | $19.06 | $32,729 | $2,727 |
| 75th percentile | $46,440 | $22.33 | $37,829 | $3,152 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,160 | $23.15 | $39,119 | $3,260 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,640 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, restaurant's $32,729 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,223 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, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Minneapolis, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Minneapolis, MN ranks #75 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 75 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,640 | $32,729 | $31,223 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Minneapolis, MN?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $39,640 a year, or about $19.06 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,110 and $46,440.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?
On the median $39,640 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $32,729 a year ($2,727 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,302 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,223 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #75 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 51% of a median cooks, restaurant’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, Institution and Cafeteria — $44,830
- 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