Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Madison, WI
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $42,960 a year ($20.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,440 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 11% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $38,650. There are 2.5 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,010, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| 25th percentile | $37,510 | $18.04 |
| Median | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| 75th percentile | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Average (mean) | $42,010 | $20.20 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,580 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,790 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,652.31 |
| Weekly | $826.15 |
| Hourly | $20.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $44,830 | 4,490 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $40,300 | 530 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $39,050 | 310 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,980 | 2,710 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $38,880 | 250 |
| Green Bay, WI | $38,640 | 480 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $38,530 | 240 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $38,440 | 210 |
| Wausau, WI | $38,170 | 160 |
| Kenosha, WI | $38,150 | 240 |
| Appleton, WI | $38,110 | 340 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $37,990 | 330 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $37,470 | 210 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $37,200 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,650 | $13.78 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| Bartender | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,060 | $22.15 |
| Dishwasher | $32,750 | $15.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,850 | $12.43 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Madison, WI?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Madison, WI metro area is $42,960 a year, or $20.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $48,440 a year. The top 25% earn $45,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,050 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $37,510 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Madison, WI?
About 1,030 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.