Food Preparation Workers pay range in Minneapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,690 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Minneapolis earn between $30,710 and $38,790.
- $30K10th
- $31K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,390 | $3,032 | $17.50 |
| Median | $35,100 | $2,925 | $16.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,710 | $2,559 | $14.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,790 | $3,232 | $18.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Minneapolis vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Minneapolis earn about the same as the Minnesota average ($35,610) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $36,390 | $35,100 | $30,250 | $46,690 | 16,810 |
| 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 Minneapolis
On the average salary of $36,390, a single filer in Minneapolis takes home about $30,291 a year, or $2,524 a month and $1,165 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 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 | $30,513 | $2,543 |
| Working in MN | $30,291 | $2,524 |
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 Minneapolis a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Minneapolis area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.8), so the average $36,390 buys what about $34,716 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Minneapolis ($59,320). A typical home costs $393,774, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Minnesota cities
Minneapolis ranks 1st of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Minneapolis: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Minneapolis?
$17.50 an hour on average, and $16.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Minneapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Minneapolis?
About $30,291 a year ($2,524 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,390. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Minneapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI (33460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 1.50, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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