Cooks, Fast Food salary in Appleton, WI
Cooks, Fast Food in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $29,050 a year ($13.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,640 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is about the same as the Wisconsin statewide median of $28,920. There are 2.3 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $29,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,460 | $11.76 |
| 25th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Median | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| 75th percentile | $33,370 | $16.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Average (mean) | $29,960 | $14.40 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,420.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,210.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,117.31 |
| Weekly | $558.65 |
| Hourly | $13.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,380 | 3,550 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $30,790 | 240 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $29,930 | 110 |
| Madison, WI | $29,640 | 960 |
| Wausau, WI | $29,600 | 130 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29,100 | 240 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $28,910 | 2,230 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $28,810 | 170 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28,750 | 150 |
| Green Bay, WI | $28,740 | 380 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $28,700 | 230 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,590 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,060 | $16.37 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,010 | $13.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| Bartender | $23,330 | $11.21 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,820 | $12.90 |
| Dishwasher | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,280 | $16.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,200 | $29.90 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Appleton, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Appleton, WI metro area is $29,050 a year, or $13.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $34,640 a year. The top 25% earn $33,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,460 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,600 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Appleton, WI?
About 280 cooks, fast food are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.