Duluth, MN-WI · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Duluth, MN-WI

In the Duluth, MN-WI metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $31,400 ($15.10/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $26,200/year and the 90th was $41,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Minnesota tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $26,549 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 88.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$31,400$15.10 per hour · $2,617 monthly
10th Percentile$26,200$12.60/hr base
25th Percentile$27,500$13.22/hr base
75th Percentile$34,400$16.54/hr base
90th Percentile$41,200$19.81/hr base

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 Pay Explorer

$31,400
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$31,400
Net 85%
Fed 5%
MN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$26,549After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,212Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,021Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.5%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,588 / yr
Minnesota state income tax$861 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,402 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Duluth, MN-WI

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MN)
10th Percentile$12.60/hr$2,183$26,200$22,603
25th Percentile$13.22/hr$2,292$27,500$23,604
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$15.10/hr$2,617$31,400$26,549
75th Percentile$16.54/hr$2,867$34,400$28,799
90th Percentile$19.81/hr$3,433$41,200$33,899

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Duluth, MN-WI

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$31,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$71,769Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index88.811.2% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio43.8%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Minnesota:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Duluth, MN-WI

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Duluth, MN-WI?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Duluth, MN-WI is $31,400, which equates to approximately $2,617 per month or $15.10 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Duluth, MN-WI?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Duluth, MN-WI is $15.10 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.60/hour and one in ten earned more than $19.81/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Duluth, MN-WI?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Duluth, MN-WI span from $26,200 at the 10th percentile to $27,500 at the 25th, $34,400 at the 75th, and $41,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Duluth, MN-WI?

On a median gross salary of $31,400, an estimated $26,549 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,021 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Minnesota in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,851 (an effective rate of 15.5%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Duluth, MN-WI?

On the median annual salary of $31,400, gross monthly income is $2,617. After federal, FICA, and Minnesota state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,212 per month (or $1,021 every two weeks).

Is $31,400 a good salary in Duluth, MN-WI?

At $31,400, the median salary for food preparation workers is 43.8% of the Duluth, MN-WI median household income ($71,769). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 88.8, making regional consumer goods and services 11.2% cheaper than the U.S. average.