Cooks, Short Order salary in Wisconsin
Cooks, Short Order in Wisconsin earn a median of $28,130 a year ($13.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,080 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $35,880. Wisconsin ranks 41st of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.77 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,550 | $10.84 |
| 25th percentile | $27,440 | $13.19 |
| Median | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| 75th percentile | $32,590 | $15.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Average (mean) | $30,050 | $14.45 |
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 | $2,344.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,172.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,081.92 |
| Weekly | $540.96 |
| Hourly | $13.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Wisconsin
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Wisconsin is $28,130 a year, or $13.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Wisconsin earn at least $39,080 a year. The top 25% earn $32,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,550 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,440 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Wisconsin?
About 2,270 cooks, short order are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.