Cooks, Short Order pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $39,090 or more. The middle half of cooks, short order in Rochester earn between $23,640 and $36,080.
- $24K10th
- $24K25th
- $30KMedian
- $36K75th
- $39K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $31,190 | $2,599 | $15.00 |
| Median | $30,320 | $2,527 | $14.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,640 | $1,970 | $11.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,080 | $3,007 | $17.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Short Order pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Cooks, short order in Rochester earn 6% less than the Minnesota average ($33,030) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($36,120). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $35,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $31,190 | $30,320 | $23,640 | $39,090 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $33,030 | $32,150 | $23,150 | $44,460 | 870 |
| United States | $36,120 | $35,880 | $23,440 | $46,460 | 138,650 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Short Order salary after taxes in Rochester
On the average salary of $31,190, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $26,391 a year, or $2,199 a month and $1,015 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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, short order? 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 $31,190 buys what about $34,342 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 11.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 3rd of 3 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($34,510).
- Minneapolis$34,510
- Duluth$32,290
- Rochester$31,190
Highest-paying cities for cooks, short order
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,560).
- Kahului, HI$52,560
- Denver, CO$51,530
- Seattle, WA$49,560
- Corvallis, OR$48,580
- San Francisco, CA$46,250
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Cooks, Short Order salary in Rochester: questions
How much do cooks, short order make an hour in Rochester?
$15.00 an hour on average, and $14.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, short order salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, short order take-home pay in Rochester?
About $26,391 a year ($2,199 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $31,190. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do cooks, short order earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,120).
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 35-2015; area Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.7%.
- 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 0.39, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.39).
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