Food Preparation Worker Salary in Rochester, MN
Food Preparation Workers in the Rochester, MN metro area earn a median $35,470 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,601 take-home, or $2,467 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Rochester, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,076
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,199
- Medicare (1.45%)$514
- Minnesota income tax$1,079
- Take-home pay$29,601
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Rochester, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,460 | $13.68 | $24,343 | $2,029 |
| 25th percentile | $29,210 | $14.04 | $24,906 | $2,076 |
| Median (50th) | $35,470 | $17.05 | $29,601 | $2,467 |
| 75th percentile | $41,370 | $19.89 | $34,026 | $2,836 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,260 | $22.72 | $38,444 | $3,204 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,470 buys in Rochester, MN
Prices in Rochester, MN are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,601 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,593 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Rochester, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Rochester, MN ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Rochester, MN | $35,470 | $29,601 | $32,593 |
*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
- St. Cloud, MN — $33,540
- Duluth, MN — $34,010
- Minneapolis, MN — $35,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Rochester, MN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Rochester, MN metro area is $35,470 a year, or about $17.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,210 and $41,370.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Rochester, MN?
On the median $35,470 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $29,601 a year ($2,467 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,079 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Rochester, MN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,593 would in a typical U.S. city. Rochester, MN ranks #17 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Rochester, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rochester, MN is $1,124 a month ($1,332 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rochester, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,620
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,150
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,630
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,190
- Bartender — $27,000
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,060