Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Minnesota
The median for cooks, fast food in Minnesota is $34,120 a year, somewhat above the national $30,890 (+10%); the state ranks 15th of 51 states by median. That is 40% less than the median across all occupations in Minnesota ($56,920). Minnesota pays more than every neighbouring state: South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa range from $28,510 in Iowa to $30,950 in South Dakota. Minnesota employs 5,190 cooks, fast food, 1.76 per 1,000 jobs, the 29th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.43 means it is less common in Minnesota than nationally.
Minnesota vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $11.81 | $14.37 | $16.41 | $18.57 | $19.02 | $16.35 | 5,190 | 1.76 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $24,550 | $29,890 | $34,120 | $38,630 | $39,560 | $34,010 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.86 | $13.11 | $14.85 | $17.92 | $20.63 | $15.57 | 641,070 | – | – |
| Annual | $22,580 | $27,260 | $30,890 | $37,260 | $42,910 | $32,390 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 15th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 29th of 49 states
- Location quotient
- 0.43
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.76
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Minnesota's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Minnesota
8 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Minnesota publish a row for cooks, fast food, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $17.49 | $36,380 | $24,550 | $39,560 | 3,550 | 1.82 | 0.44 |
| Rochester, MN | $15.91 | $33,090 | $26,180 | $37,160 | 170 | 1.36 | 0.33 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $15.85 | $32,970 | $25,930 | $34,260 | 740 | 4.14 | 1.00 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $14.91 | $31,010 | $28,000 | $37,490 | 180 | 1.78 | 0.43 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $14.80 | $30,790 | $24,270 | $36,770 | 240 | 1.95 | 0.47 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $14.29 | $29,710 | $23,840 | $38,400 | 180 | 1.18 | 0.29 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $14.21 | $29,550 | $22,610 | $36,770 | 100 | 1.95 | 0.47 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $13.74 | $28,590 | $23,380 | $34,150 | 180 | 2.13 | 0.52 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $15.08 | $31,360 | $27,590 | $37,220 | 330 | 2.15 | 0.52 |
| Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $14.95 | $31,090 | $23,150 | $37,220 | 70 | 1.59 | 0.38 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $14.92 | $31,030 | $29,690 | $37,040 | 250 | 2.14 | 0.52 |
| Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $14.47 | $30,090 | $23,150 | $36,920 | 290 | 1.52 | 0.37 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $16.41 | $34,120 | 5,190 | 0.43 |
| Iowa | $13.71 | $28,510 | 8,290 | 1.29 |
| North Dakota | $14.53 | $30,220 | 580 | 0.32 |
| South Dakota | $14.88 | $30,950 | 1,720 | 0.91 |
| Wisconsin | $13.90 | $28,920 | 6,900 | 0.57 |
See the national page for Cooks, Fast Food (every state ranked) and the Minnesota wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Minnesota estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.