Food Preparation Worker Salary in Duluth, MN
Food Preparation Workers in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area earn a median $34,010 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,506 take-home, or $2,376 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Duluth, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,901
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,109
- Medicare (1.45%)$493
- Minnesota income tax$1,001
- Take-home pay$28,506
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.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Duluth, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,040 | $13.00 | $23,249 | $1,937 |
| 25th percentile | $28,720 | $13.81 | $24,539 | $2,045 |
| Median (50th) | $34,010 | $16.35 | $28,506 | $2,376 |
| 75th percentile | $37,020 | $17.80 | $30,764 | $2,564 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,630 | $20.98 | $35,721 | $2,977 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,010 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 food preparation worker's $28,506 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,113 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 1.5× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Duluth, MN ranks #24 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 24 | Duluth, MN | $34,010 | $28,506 | $32,113 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Minnesota
- Rochester, MN — $35,470
- St. Cloud, MN — $33,540
- Minneapolis, MN — $35,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Duluth, MN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Duluth, MN-WI metro area is $34,010 a year, or about $16.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,720 and $37,020.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Duluth, MN?
On the median $34,010 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $28,506 a year ($2,376 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,001 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Duluth, MN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,113 would in a typical U.S. city. Duluth, MN ranks #24 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 41% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,680
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,880
- 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