Food Preparation Workers Salary in Minnesota
At $34,850 a year, the median for food preparation workers in Minnesota is close to the national median of $35,320 (−1%); Minnesota ranks 25th of 51 states by median. That is 39% less than the median across all occupations in Minnesota ($56,920). Among neighbouring states, North Dakota pays more (up to $36,800 in North Dakota) and Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa pay less (down to $30,360 in Iowa). Minnesota employs 24,620 food preparation workers, 8.35 per 1,000 jobs, the 10th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.45 means the occupation is more concentrated 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 | $14.01 | $14.69 | $16.76 | $18.39 | $22.01 | $17.12 | 24,620 | 8.35 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $29,150 | $30,550 | $34,850 | $38,240 | $45,790 | $35,610 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 25th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 10th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.45
- Jobs per 1,000
- 8.35
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
9 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Minnesota publish a row for food preparation workers, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND-MN | $17.59 | $36,590 | $27,950 | $44,790 | 550 | 3.69 | 0.64 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $17.14 | $35,650 | $27,720 | $43,570 | 270 | 5.15 | 0.90 |
| Rochester, MN | $17.05 | $35,470 | $28,460 | $47,260 | 790 | 6.40 | 1.11 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $16.87 | $35,100 | $30,250 | $46,690 | 16,810 | 8.62 | 1.50 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $16.78 | $34,900 | $24,190 | $43,640 | 660 | 7.81 | 1.36 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $16.35 | $34,010 | $27,040 | $43,630 | 1,050 | 8.44 | 1.47 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $16.12 | $33,540 | $28,210 | $43,820 | 890 | 8.56 | 1.49 |
| Mankato, MN | $16.08 | $33,440 | $27,640 | $43,320 | 390 | 7.03 | 1.22 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $14.60 | $30,360 | $27,370 | $39,020 | 1,170 | 6.53 | 1.14 |
| Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $16.65 | $34,640 | $27,040 | $43,340 | 1,750 | 9.05 | 1.58 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $16.62 | $34,560 | $27,700 | $45,880 | 1,450 | 9.40 | 1.64 |
| Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $15.75 | $32,760 | $27,250 | $40,540 | 460 | 10.54 | 1.83 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $15.70 | $32,650 | $27,190 | $41,390 | 840 | 7.14 | 1.24 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $16.76 | $34,850 | 24,620 | 1.45 |
| Iowa | $14.60 | $30,360 | 4,170 | 0.47 |
| North Dakota | $17.69 | $36,800 | 980 | 0.40 |
| South Dakota | $14.63 | $30,430 | 3,270 | 1.24 |
| Wisconsin | $16.38 | $34,070 | 17,990 | 1.06 |
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (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.