Food Preparation Workers pay range in Duluth
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,630 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Duluth earn between $28,720 and $37,020.
- $27K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,840 | $2,820 | $16.27 |
| Median | $34,010 | $2,834 | $16.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,720 | $2,393 | $13.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,020 | $3,085 | $17.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Duluth vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Duluth earn 5% less than the Minnesota average ($35,610) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $33,840 | $34,010 | $27,040 | $43,630 | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $35,610 | $34,850 | $29,150 | $45,790 | 24,620 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Duluth
On the average salary of $33,840, a single filer in Duluth takes home about $28,379 a year, or $2,365 a month and $1,091 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Duluth, MN-WI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $28,590 | $2,383 |
| Working in MN | $28,379 | $2,365 |
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 Duluth a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Duluth area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $33,840 buys what about $38,122 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Duluth ($50,000). A typical home costs $264,350, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Minnesota cities
Duluth ranks 4th of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($36,390).
- Minneapolis$36,390
- Rochester$35,820
- St. Cloud$34,220
- Duluth$33,840
- Mankato$33,820
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Duluth: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Duluth?
$16.27 an hour on average, and $16.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Duluth?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Duluth?
About $28,379 a year ($2,365 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,840. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Duluth than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Duluth, MN-WI (20260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 1.47, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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