Cottage Grove Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Cottage Grove, MN: $25.45/hr median hourly wage, $52,940 median annual salary, cost of living index 99.1, and $10.85/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Minnesota taxes.
Cottage Grove Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Cottage Grove, MN is $25.45/hr, equivalent to $52,940 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $15.78/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $36.14/hr, and the local minimum wage is $10.85/hr.
Median Salary
$52,940
$25.45/hr
Cost of Living
99.1
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$10.85
per hour
Unemployment
2.3%
rate
Cottage Grove, MN Overview
Population
37,400
Median Salary
$52,940
Average Salary
$59,293
Avg Commute
17 min
Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Rent
$1,251/mo
Job Growth
+0.5%
Sales Tax
6.875%
Cottage Grove is located in Minnesota with a population of 37,400. The median household salary is $52,940 per year ($25.45/hour), which is $6,444 below the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 17 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.5%.
Cottage Grove Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Cottage Grove, MN based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $52,940 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $32,823 | $15.78/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $52,940 | $25.45/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $75,175 | $36.14/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $94,233 | $45.30/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Cottage Grove Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Cottage Grove, MN, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,562
$3,380.13/month · $1,560.06/biweekly · Effective Rate: 23.4%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,560.06 take-home per paycheck after estimated Minnesota and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$52,940
Federal Tax
-$4,173
State Tax
-$4,156
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,050
Net Pay
$40,562
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,411.67 | $52,940.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$347.73 | -$4,172.80 |
| Minnesota State Tax (7.85%) | -$346.32 | -$4,155.79 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$273.52 | -$3,282.28 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$63.97 | -$767.63 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,380.13 | $40,561.50 |
Salary Comparison: Cottage Grove vs Other Cities
See how Cottage Grove's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage Grove, MN | $52,940 | 99.1 | $53,421 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| DeLand, FL | $52,940 | 90.6 | $58,433 |
| Downey, CA | $52,908 | 148.2 | $35,700 |
| Norwalk, CA | $52,896 | 140.5 | $37,648 |
| Menifee, CA | $52,891 | 114.2 | $46,314 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove's cost of living index is 99.1 (national average = 100). Living in Cottage Grove is 0.9000000000000057% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,251
Annual Rent Cost
$15,012
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,562 annual take-home pay in Cottage Grove has the purchasing power of approximately $40,930 in an average-cost US area. Your $52,940 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $52,940.
Salary Tips for Cottage Grove Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a 7.85% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Cottage Grove's top industries include Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $52,940 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Cottage Grove salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Cottage Grove-MN metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Cottage Grove indexed at 99.1.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Cottage Grove's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $52,940 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects Minnesota state income tax (7.85%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6.875%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Cottage Grove: 2.3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Minnesota.
- Housing context: median home price $308,000, median rent $1,251/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Cottage Grove, MN:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Cottage Grove unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Cottage Grove QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — Minnesota — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Cottage Grove's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Minnesota labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Cottage Grove, MN?
The median hourly wage in Cottage Grove, MN is $25.45 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $52,940 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $15.78/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $36.14/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Cottage Grove, MN?
The median salary in Cottage Grove, MN is $52,940 per year, or $25.45 per hour. The average salary is $59,293. This is $6,444 below the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Cottage Grove, MN?
Cottage Grove's cost of living index is 99.1 (national average = 100), meaning it is 0.9000000000000057% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $308,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,251.
What are the best industries in Cottage Grove?
The top industries in Cottage Grove, MN include Healthcare, Finance, Manufacturing. The city has a job growth rate of 0.5% and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $52,940.
How does Cottage Grove's salary compare to other cities?
Cottage Grove's median salary of $52,940 is 10.9% below the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 99.1), the real purchasing power is approximately $53,421.
What is the minimum wage in Cottage Grove, MN?
The minimum wage in Cottage Grove, MN is $10.85 per hour. This equals approximately $22,568 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $3.60 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.