Food Preparation Worker Salary in St. Cloud, MN
Food Preparation Workers in the St. Cloud, MN metro area earn a median $33,540 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,154 take-home, or $2,346 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in St. Cloud, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,845
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,079
- Medicare (1.45%)$486
- Minnesota income tax$976
- Take-home pay$28,154
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in St. Cloud, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,210 | $13.56 | $24,150 | $2,013 |
| 25th percentile | $29,150 | $14.01 | $24,861 | $2,072 |
| Median (50th) | $33,540 | $16.13 | $28,154 | $2,346 |
| 75th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 | $31,169 | $2,597 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,820 | $21.07 | $35,864 | $2,989 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,540 buys in St. Cloud, MN
Prices in St. Cloud, MN are 12.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $28,154 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,127 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Cloud, 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
St. Cloud, MN ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | St. Cloud, MN | $33,540 | $28,154 | $32,127 |
*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
- Duluth, MN — $34,010
- Minneapolis, MN — $35,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in St. Cloud, MN?
The median food preparation worker salary in the St. Cloud, MN metro area is $33,540 a year, or about $16.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,150 and $37,560.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in St. Cloud, MN?
On the median $33,540 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $28,154 a year ($2,346 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $976 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is St. Cloud, MN a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 12.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,127 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Cloud, MN ranks #23 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in St. Cloud, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Cloud, MN is $919 a month ($1,206 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Cloud, MN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,600
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,270
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,680
- Bartender — $25,970
- Waiter and Waitress — $23,520