Cooks, Restaurant salary in Appleton, WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $36,520 a year ($17.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,460 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the Wisconsin statewide median of $36,550. There are 8.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,740, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,360 | $12.67 |
| 25th percentile | $30,360 | $14.60 |
| Median | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 75th percentile | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,460 | $21.86 |
| Average (mean) | $35,740 | $17.18 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,043.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,521.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,404.62 |
| Weekly | $702.31 |
| Hourly | $17.56 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $39,640 | 17,760 |
| Madison, WI | $38,440 | 3,190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37,180 | 7,220 |
| Green Bay, WI | $36,760 | 1,620 |
| Kenosha, WI | $36,730 | 640 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,680 | 1,460 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $36,500 | 700 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,260 | 860 |
| Wausau, WI | $36,180 | 530 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $35,920 | 640 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $35,800 | 600 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $35,780 | 790 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $35,720 | 320 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $35,360 | 450 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,060 | $16.37 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| 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 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Appleton, WI metro area is $36,520 a year, or $17.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $45,460 a year. The top 25% earn $38,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,360 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,360 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Appleton, WI?
About 1,060 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.