Cooks, Restaurant pay range in Duluth
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,390 or more. The middle half of cooks, restaurant in Duluth earn between $32,610 and $41,330.
- $29K10th
- $33K25th
- $37KMedian
- $41K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,020 | $3,085 | $17.80 |
| Median | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,610 | $2,718 | $15.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,330 | $3,444 | $19.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Duluth vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Cooks, restaurant in Duluth earn 8% less than the Minnesota average ($40,210) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($38,730). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $37,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $37,020 | $36,680 | $29,100 | $45,390 | 1,460 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 | $38,590 | $31,280 | $47,850 | 26,080 |
| United States | $38,730 | $37,390 | $28,700 | $47,900 | 1,409,890 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Restaurant salary after taxes in Duluth
On the average salary of $37,020, a single filer in Duluth takes home about $30,764 a year, or $2,564 a month and $1,183 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Duluth, 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 | $30,988 | $2,582 |
| Working in MN | $30,764 | $2,564 |
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 Duluth a good place for cooks, restaurant? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Duluth area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.8), so the average $37,020 buys what about $41,704 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Duluth ($50,000). A typical home costs $264,350, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other Minnesota cities
Duluth ranks 5th of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($41,850).
- Minneapolis$41,850
- Rochester$39,310
- Mankato$37,700
- St. Cloud$37,040
- Duluth$37,020
Highest-paying cities for cooks, restaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,460).
- Kahului, HI$54,460
- San Jose, CA$49,390
- Seattle, WA$49,000
- San Francisco, CA$48,630
- Napa, CA$47,830
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Cooks, Restaurant salary in Duluth: questions
How much do cooks, restaurant make an hour in Duluth?
$17.80 an hour on average, and $17.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, restaurant salary in Duluth?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, restaurant take-home pay in Duluth?
About $30,764 a year ($2,564 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,020. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do cooks, restaurant earn more in Duluth than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,730).
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 35-2014; area Duluth, MN-WI (20260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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