Cooks, Fast Food salary in Wisconsin
Cooks, Fast Food in Wisconsin earn a median of $28,920 a year ($13.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,920 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $30,890. Wisconsin ranks 34th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 2.3 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $29,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,550 | $10.84 |
| 25th percentile | $27,730 | $13.33 |
| Median | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| 75th percentile | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,920 | $16.79 |
| Average (mean) | $29,310 | $14.09 |
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 | $2,410 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,205 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,112.31 |
| Weekly | $556.15 |
| Hourly | $13.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Wisconsin
| 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 |
| Appleton, WI | $29,050 | 280 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,760 | $16.23 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,670 | $14.26 |
| Bartender | $23,460 | $11.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| Dishwasher | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,300 | $29.47 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Wisconsin is $28,920 a year, or $13.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Wisconsin earn at least $34,920 a year. The top 25% earn $32,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,550 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $27,730 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Wisconsin?
About 6,900 cooks, fast food are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.