Cooks, Restaurant salary in Madison, WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $38,440 a year ($18.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,090 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $36,550. There are 7.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,790 | $14.80 |
| 25th percentile | $34,990 | $16.82 |
| Median | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| 75th percentile | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,090 | $22.64 |
| Average (mean) | $39,150 | $18.82 |
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 | $3,203.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,601.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,478.46 |
| Weekly | $739.23 |
| Hourly | $18.48 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Appleton, WI | $36,520 | 1,060 |
| 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 Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Madison, WI metro area is $38,440 a year, or $18.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $47,090 a year. The top 25% earn $44,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,790 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $34,990 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Madison, WI?
About 3,190 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.