Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Mankato
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,430 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Mankato earn between $47,410 and $76,090.
- $47K10th
- $47K25th
- $60KMedian
- $76K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,110 | $5,092 | $29.38 |
| Median | $60,050 | $5,004 | $28.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,410 | $3,951 | $22.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,090 | $6,341 | $36.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Mankato vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Mankato earn 9% less than the Minnesota average ($66,910) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato | $61,110 | $60,050 | $46,810 | $80,430 | 30 |
| Minnesota | $66,910 | $62,600 | $48,400 | $95,890 | 1,730 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Mankato
On the average salary of $61,110, a single filer in Mankato takes home about $48,650 a year, or $4,054 a month and $1,871 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Mankato a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Mankato area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.0), so the average $61,110 buys what about $67,187 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Mankato ($49,530). A typical home costs $309,967, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Minnesota cities
Mankato ranks 4th of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($67,570).
- Minneapolis$67,570
- Rochester$67,020
- Duluth$61,210
- Mankato$61,110
- St. Cloud$60,980
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Mankato: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Mankato?
$29.38 an hour on average, and $28.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Mankato?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Mankato?
About $48,650 a year ($4,054 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,110. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Mankato than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Mankato, MN (31860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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