Food Preparation Worker salary in Green Bay, WI
Food Preparation Workers in the Green Bay, WI metro area earn a median of $32,720 a year ($15.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,390 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 4% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $34,070. There are 7.2 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,550, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Green Bay, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,610 | $10.87 |
| 25th percentile | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| Median | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| 75th percentile | $37,550 | $18.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| Average (mean) | $32,550 | $15.65 |
Half of food preparation workers 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 | $2,726.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,363.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,258.46 |
| Weekly | $629.23 |
| Hourly | $15.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $36,940 | 2,330 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,470 | 4,500 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $35,100 | 16,810 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $34,900 | 660 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,840 | 490 |
| Appleton, WI | $34,060 | 650 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $34,010 | 1,050 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,680 | 580 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $32,340 | 500 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $32,150 | 490 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $31,720 | 320 |
| Wausau, WI | $31,720 | 440 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $30,810 | 370 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $30,460 | 500 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Green Bay, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,740 | $13.82 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,730 | $13.33 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,610 | $14.23 |
| Bartender | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,280 | $18.40 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,480 | $12.73 |
| Dishwasher | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,730 | $16.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,620 | $13.28 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,480 | $28.11 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Green Bay, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Green Bay, WI?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Green Bay, WI metro area is $32,720 a year, or $15.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Green Bay, WI?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Green Bay, WI metro area earn at least $42,390 a year. The top 25% earn $37,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Green Bay, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,610 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $28,030 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Green Bay, WI?
About 1,260 food preparation workers are employed in the Green Bay, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.