Cooks, Restaurant salary in Wisconsin
Cooks, Restaurant in Wisconsin earn a median of $36,550 a year ($17.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,410 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,270 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $37,390. Wisconsin ranks 29th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,010 | $13.47 |
| 25th percentile | $31,240 | $15.02 |
| Median | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| 75th percentile | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,270 | $22.25 |
| Average (mean) | $36,690 | $17.64 |
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 | $3,045.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,522.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,405.77 |
| Weekly | $702.88 |
| Hourly | $17.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Wisconsin
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,760 | $16.23 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,670 | $14.26 |
| Bartender | $23,460 | $11.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| Dishwasher | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,300 | $29.47 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Wisconsin is $36,550 a year, or $17.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Wisconsin earn at least $46,270 a year. The top 25% earn $40,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,010 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,240 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Wisconsin?
About 25,410 cooks, restaurant are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.