Cooks, Restaurant salary in Wausau, WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Wausau, WI metro area earn a median of $36,180 a year ($17.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,760 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 7.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,980, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Wausau, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,510 | $12.75 |
| 25th percentile | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| Median | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| 75th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,760 | $21.04 |
| Average (mean) | $34,980 | $16.82 |
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 | $3,015 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,507.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,391.54 |
| Weekly | $695.77 |
| Hourly | $17.39 |
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 |
| Appleton, WI | $36,520 | 1,060 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $36,500 | 700 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,260 | 860 |
| 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 Wausau, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,720 | $15.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,060 | $13.97 |
| Bartender | $22,640 | $10.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,000 | $17.79 |
| Dishwasher | $27,860 | $13.40 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,340 | $13.14 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,690 | $12.83 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,910 | $31.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wausau, 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 Wausau, WI?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Wausau, WI metro area is $36,180 a year, or $17.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Wausau, WI?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Wausau, WI metro area earn at least $43,760 a year. The top 25% earn $37,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Wausau, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,510 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,070 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Wausau, WI?
About 530 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Wausau, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.