Cooks, Short Order salary in Appleton, WI
Cooks, Short Order in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $27,720 a year ($13.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,500 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 1% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $28,130. There are 0.65 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $31,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,620 | $11.36 |
| 25th percentile | $27,620 | $13.28 |
| Median | $27,720 | $13.33 |
| 75th percentile | $30,980 | $14.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Average (mean) | $31,410 | $15.10 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,310 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,155 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,066.15 |
| Weekly | $533.08 |
| Hourly | $13.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $32,150 | 580 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $29,960 | 80 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,700 | 60 |
| Madison, WI | $28,650 | n/a |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $28,400 | 60 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $28,130 | n/a |
| Kenosha, WI | $27,790 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $27,730 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,060 | $16.37 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Appleton, WI metro area is $27,720 a year, or $13.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $40,500 a year. The top 25% earn $30,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,620 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,620 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Appleton, WI?
About 80 cooks, short order are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.