Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,120 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Rochester earn between $37,500 and $44,970.
- $35K10th
- $38K25th
- $43KMedian
- $45K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,070 | $3,506 | $20.23 |
| Median | $43,160 | $3,597 | $20.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,500 | $3,125 | $18.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,970 | $3,748 | $21.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Rochester earn about the same as the Minnesota average ($43,050) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $42,070 | $43,160 | $35,380 | $50,120 | 330 |
| Minnesota | $43,050 | $43,460 | $35,520 | $52,140 | 7,890 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Rochester
On the average salary of $42,070, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $34,551 a year, or $2,879 a month and $1,329 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 Rochester a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $42,070 buys what about $46,322 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($44,680).
- Minneapolis$44,680
- Rochester$42,070
- St. Cloud$41,980
- Mankato$41,820
- Duluth$41,220
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Rochester: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Rochester?
$20.23 an hour on average, and $20.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Rochester?
About $34,551 a year ($2,879 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,070. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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