EN

Language

Search
CostAnswer

Explore

Language

MethodologyAbout

Rochester, MN metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Rochester, MN?

In the Rochester, MN metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $35,470 a year ($17.05 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 790 of these jobs there. That is 41% below the $60,620 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $28,460 and $47,260; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Minnesota tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $29,601 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Rochester, MN at a glance

Median salary

$35,470$17.05 per hour · $2,956 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$28,460$13.68/hr
25th percentile$29,210$14.05/hr
75th percentile$41,370$19.89/hr
90th percentile$47,260$22.72/hr
Jobs in this metro790Location quotient 1.11 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here41% belowAll-jobs median $60,620
Against Minnesota2% aboveStatewide median $34,850
Against the U.S.about the same asNational median $35,320

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $35,000 a year leaves after tax in MinnesotaFederal tax, FICA and Minnesota withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$17 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $35,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $35,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Minnesota publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Minnesota.

Food preparation worker salary in Rochester, MN after taxes

$35,470
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,470
Net 83%
Fed 6%
MN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,601After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,467Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,139Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,076 / yr
Minnesota state income tax$1,079 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,713 / yr
Customize deductions in full Minnesota calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Rochester, MN, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Rochester, MN metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Rochester, MN metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (MN)
10th percentile$13.68/hr$2,372$28,460$24,343
25th percentile$14.05/hr$2,434$29,210$24,906
MedianMedian$17.05/hr$2,956$35,470$29,601
75th percentile$19.89/hr$3,448$41,370$34,026
90th percentile$22.72/hr$3,938$47,260$38,444

Is $35,470 a good salary in Rochester, MN?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$91,882Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)90.89.2% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household38.6%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Compare markets

Food preparation workers pay in other Minnesota metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Rochester, MN. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Rochester, MN: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Rochester, MN?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Rochester, MN metro area was $35,470 in May 2025, about $2,956 a month or $17.05 an hour. Statewide, the Minnesota median for this job is $34,850, so the metro pays 2% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Rochester, MN?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Rochester, MN was $17.05 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.68 an hour and one in ten earned more than $22.72.

How many food preparation workers work in Rochester, MN?

BLS estimated 790 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 6.4 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.11 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Rochester, MN?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Rochester, MN run from $28,460 at the 10th percentile to $29,210 at the 25th, $41,370 at the 75th, and $47,260 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Rochester, MN?

On a median gross salary of $35,470, an estimated $29,601 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,139 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Minnesota in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,869 (an effective rate of 16.5%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Rochester, MN?

On the median annual salary of $35,470, gross monthly income is $2,956. After federal, FICA, and Minnesota state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,467 per month (or $1,139 every two weeks).

Is $35,470 a good salary in Rochester, MN?

At $35,470, the median salary for food preparation workers is 38.6% of the Rochester, MN median household income ($91,882). It is 41% below the $60,620 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 90.8, so prices here run 9.2% below the U.S. average.