Cooks, Restaurant salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Cooks, Restaurant in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $36,260 a year ($17.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 860 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,060 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $36,550. There are 10 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,820, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,050 | $13.49 |
| 25th percentile | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| Median | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| 75th percentile | $38,510 | $18.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,060 | $21.66 |
| Average (mean) | $35,820 | $17.22 |
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 | $3,021.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,510.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,394.62 |
| Weekly | $697.31 |
| Hourly | $17.43 |
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 |
| Rochester, MN | $38,150 | 1,060 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | 690 |
| Mankato, MN | $37,190 | 510 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $37,180 | 7,220 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $37,020 | 1,560 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $36,800 | 560 |
| Green Bay, WI | $36,760 | 1,620 |
| Kenosha, WI | $36,730 | 640 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,680 | 1,460 |
| Appleton, WI | $36,520 | 1,060 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $36,500 | 700 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $36,270 | 780 |
| 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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,050 | $18.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,590 | $13.74 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,280 | $13.59 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Bartender | $23,130 | $11.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,300 | $28.03 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $36,260 a year, or $17.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $45,060 a year. The top 25% earn $38,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,050 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,080 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 860 cooks, restaurant are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.