Cooks, Short Order salary in Madison, WI
Cooks, Short Order in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $28,650 a year ($13.78 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $23,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,620 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 2% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $28,130. The average (mean) salary is $29,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,530 | $11.31 |
| 25th percentile | $28,650 | $13.78 |
| Median | $28,650 | $13.78 |
| 75th percentile | $30,340 | $14.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| Average (mean) | $29,980 | $14.41 |
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 | $2,387.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,193.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,101.92 |
| Weekly | $550.96 |
| Hourly | $13.78 |
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 |
| 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 |
| Appleton, WI | $27,720 | 80 |
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 Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Madison, WI metro area is $28,650 a year, or $13.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $37,620 a year. The top 25% earn $30,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,530 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $28,650 or less.