Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Minnesota
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Minnesota (2026)
$20.90 per hour · take-home ≈ $35,594/year ($2,966/month) for a single filer
Minnesota ranks 16th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 14% above the national average. Of the 7,890 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Minnesota, the typical worker earns $43,460 a year — though pay ranges from $35,520 for newcomers to $52,140 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Minnesota
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,520 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,840 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $43,460 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $46,590 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $52,140 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,890 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Minnesota (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Minnesota
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $43,460 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Minnesota state income tax, a single filer keeps about $35,594 — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
| Gross (median) | $43,460 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,035 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,325 |
| Minnesota state income tax | −$1,507 |
| Take-home (annual) | $35,594 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,966 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Minnesota paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Minnesota?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Minnesota is $43,460 per year ($20.90 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,840 and $46,590.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Minnesota?
- On the median salary of $43,460, a single filer in Minnesota takes home about $35,594 per year ($2,966 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.1%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Minnesota?
- BLS counts 7,890 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Minnesota in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Minnesota
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Minnesota state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Minnesota.