Minnesota / Veterans Affairs Department / Cook

Job-title file

Cook

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

55 employees hold this title in Veterans Affairs Department. Median total compensation for the role is $45,036, below the department median of $55,734.

Employees: 55
Total payroll: $2.3M
Role median: $45,036
Agency median: $55,734
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$3,047$69,541+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 55 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Cook pay vs. Minnesota

Across all employers in Minnesota, the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — about 7,890 people — is $43,460. Veterans Affairs Department pays a median base salary of $52,797 for this role, 21% above that figure — above the 90th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Veterans Affairs Department sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$35,520

$37,840

$43,460

$46,590

$52,140

Veterans Affairs Department median · $52,797

The bar is the range of annual wages for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria across every employer in Minnesota, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Veterans Affairs Department’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — about 441,050 people — is $37,450. Veterans Affairs Department’s median base salary is 41% above that national figure, above the 90th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$28,480

$32,440

$37,450

$44,800

$49,670

Veterans Affairs Department median · $52,797

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the Minnesota range relative to the national one.

Computed over the 35 of 55 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Veterans Affairs Department is $45,036, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across Minnesota

Cook is held in 6 Minnesota departments. In Veterans Affairs Department, the median of $45,036 ranks #4 of 6.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Direct Care and Treatment Department

$54,465 · 17

MN St Colleges & Universities

$52,674 · 6

Human Services Department

$47,167 · 21

MN State Academies

$39,942 · 3

Natural Resources Department

$8,879 · 11

Median total compensation for the Cook role in other Minnesotadepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Cook beyond Minnesota

This role is reported in 20 jurisdictions. In Minnesota, the median of $47,360 ranks #7 of 20. See Cook across all of Minnesota →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

City and County of San Francisco

$121,457 · 38

Los Angeles County

$106,337 · 8

Massachusetts

$56,973 · 108

New York Public Authorities

$52,186 · 18

New York City

$51,280 · 94

Illinois

$48,700 · 115

Chicago Public Schools

$46,984 · 300

Texas

$42,923 · 368

Median total compensation for comparable Cookroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 2

Shichao Cummings

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$19,005

Sub-department: Mpls Cook Staff
Base pay: $17,604
Overtime: $267
Other pay: $1,134
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $19,005
Hire date: 2018-07-25
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Shichao Cummings is a Cook at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Cook Staff. They have served since 2018 (about 6 years), working full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $19,005. Union affiliation: Service.

Saul Villa Alcala

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$18,808

Sub-department: MVH-Preston Dining Svcs
Base pay: $14,040
Overtime: $3,006
Other pay: $1,762
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $18,808
Hire date: 2023-11-27
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5
Work county: Fillmore

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Saul Villa Alcala serves as a Cook within Mvh-Preston Dining Services. Hired in 2023, they have about a year of service, working part-time, 0.5 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $18,808. Union affiliation: Service.

Cynthia Seleski

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$18,270

Sub-department: MVH-Hastings Dietary
Base pay: $16,865
Overtime: $845
Other pay: $560
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $18,270
Hire date: 2002-12-30
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Cynthia Seleski serves as a Cook within Mvh-Hastings Dietary. Hired in 2002, they have about 23 years of service, working part-time, 0.8 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $18,270. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Patrick Anderson

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$17,613

Sub-department: Mpls Cook Staff
Base pay: $15,555
Overtime: $1,696
Other pay: $363
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $17,613
Hire date: 2023-06-21
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Patrick Anderson is a Cook at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Cook Staff. Their tenure dates to 2023, about a year, working part-time, 0.8 FTE. 2024 total compensation came to $17,613. Union affiliation: Service.

Joseph Goblirsch

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$17,330

Sub-department: MVH-Montevideo Dining Svcs
Base pay: $14,902
Overtime: $611
Other pay: $1,817
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $17,330
Hire date: 2023-12-06
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Chippewa

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Joseph Goblirsch serves as a Cook within Mvh-Montevideo Dining Services. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years, working part-time, 0.8 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $17,330. Union affiliation: Service.

Landon Fuller

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$16,635

Sub-department: Mpls Cook Staff
Base pay: $16,055
Overtime: $380
Other pay: $200
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $16,635
Hire date: 2025-02-19
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Landon Fuller is a Cook at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Cook Staff. Hired in 2025, they have under a year of service, working part-time, 0.8 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $16,635. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Aaron Bronk

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$16,060

Sub-department: Mpls Cook Staff
Base pay: $14,738
Overtime: $774
Other pay: $548
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $16,060
Hire date: 2023-09-18
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Aaron Bronk serves as a Cook within Mpls Cook Staff. They have served since 2023 (about 2 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $16,060. Union affiliation: Service.

Diane Samp

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$15,504

Sub-department: MVH Fergus Falls Indirect Care
Base pay: $13,612
Overtime: $1,604
Other pay: $288
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $15,504
Hire date: 2004-07-15
Employment type: Intermittent
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.1
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Diane Samp works as a Cook for Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh Fergus Falls Indirect Care. Their tenure dates to 2004, about 21 years as a intermittent, 0.1 FTE employee. Diane earned $15,504 in 2025. They are represented by Service.

Koffi Yigan-Kohoe

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$14,840

Sub-department: Mpls Cook Staff
Base pay: $5,689
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $9,151
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $14,840
Hire date: 2018-06-06
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.8
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Koffi Yigan-Kohoe holds the role of Cook at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Cook Staff. Their tenure dates to 2018, about 7 years as a part-time, 0.8 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $14,840. Union affiliation: Service.

Raymond Molter

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$14,763

Sub-department: MVH Fergus Falls Indirect Care
Base pay: $11,354
Overtime: $1,595
Other pay: $1,814
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $14,763
Hire date: 2018-12-12
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Insufficient Work Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.2
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 218
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Raymond Molter serves as a Cook within Mvh Fergus Falls Indirect Care. Hired in 2018, they have about 6 years of service, working part-time, 0.2 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $14,763. Their bargaining unit is Insufficient Work Time.

Derick Granberry

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$10,711

Sub-department: MVH-Hastings Dietary
Base pay: $9,774
Overtime: $520
Other pay: $417
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $10,711
Hire date: 2025-03-26
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.4
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Veterans Affairs Department, Derick Granberry serves as a Cook within Mvh-Hastings Dietary. They have served since 2025 (under a year), working part-time, 0.4 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $10,711. They are represented by Service.

Mary Hunter

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$8,045

Sub-department: Mpls Cook Staff
Base pay: $5,463
Overtime: $543
Other pay: $2,039
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $8,045
Hire date: 2006-03-27
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Mary Hunter works as a Cook for Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Cook Staff. Hired in 2006, they have about 18 years of service as a full-time employee. Mary earned $8,045 in 2024. Union affiliation: Service.

Brian Zak

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2025 total comp

$6,245

Sub-department: MVH-Hastings Dietary
Base pay: $5,891
Overtime: $331
Other pay: $24
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $6,245
Hire date: 2024-04-24
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Brian Zak works as a Cook for Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh-Hastings Dietary. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a full-time employee. Brian earned $6,245 in 2025. Union affiliation: Service.

Shamus Ouse

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$3,340

Sub-department: MVH Fergus Falls Indirect Care
Base pay: $1,002
Overtime: $380
Other pay: $1,958
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $3,340
Hire date: 2021-10-27
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.2
Work county: Otter Tail

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Shamus Ouse works as a Cook for Veterans Affairs Department within Mvh Fergus Falls Indirect Care. They have served since 2021 (about 3 years) as a part-time, 0.2 FTE employee. Shamus earned $3,340 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is Service.

Taylor Lucius

Cook/Veterans Affairs Department

2024 total comp

$3,047

Sub-department: Mpls Cook Staff
Base pay: $2,516
Overtime: $292
Other pay: $238
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $3,047
Hire date: 2022-12-27
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 62
Union / bargaining unit: Service
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: H75
Bargaining Unit Number: 203
Branch: Executive
Branch Code: Executive
Classified Code: Classified
Classified Status: Classified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Taylor Lucius holds the role of Cook at Veterans Affairs Department within Mpls Cook Staff. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 2 years as a full-time employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $3,047. They are represented by Service.