Food Preparation Workers pay range in St. Cloud
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,820 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in St. Cloud earn between $29,150 and $37,560.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $34KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,220 | $2,852 | $16.45 |
| Median | $33,540 | $2,795 | $16.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,150 | $2,429 | $14.01 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,560 | $3,130 | $18.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in St. Cloud vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in St. Cloud earn 4% less than the Minnesota average ($35,610) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud | $34,220 | $33,540 | $28,210 | $43,820 | 890 |
| 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 St. Cloud
On the average salary of $34,220, a single filer in St. Cloud takes home about $28,664 a year, or $2,389 a month and $1,102 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 St. Cloud a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the St. Cloud area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.6), so the average $34,220 buys what about $39,050 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in St. Cloud ($50,840). A typical home costs $318,864, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Minnesota cities
St. Cloud ranks 3rd 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 St. Cloud: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in St. Cloud?
$16.45 an hour on average, and $16.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in St. Cloud?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in St. Cloud?
About $28,664 a year ($2,389 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,220. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do food preparation workers earn more in St. Cloud than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 St. Cloud, MN (41060). 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 1.49, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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