Food Preparation Worker salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Food Preparation Workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $34,900 a year ($16.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,640 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 2% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $34,070. There are 7.8 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $33,540, close to the median.
Pay range for food preparation workers in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,190 | $11.63 |
| 25th percentile | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Median | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| 75th percentile | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,640 | $20.98 |
| Average (mean) | $33,540 | $16.13 |
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 | $2,908.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,454.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,342.31 |
| Weekly | $671.15 |
| Hourly | $16.78 |
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 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $36,590 | 550 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $35,650 | 270 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,470 | 4,500 |
| Rochester, MN | $35,470 | 790 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $35,100 | 16,810 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,840 | 490 |
| Appleton, WI | $34,060 | 650 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $34,010 | 1,050 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,680 | 580 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $33,540 | 890 |
| Mankato, MN | $33,440 | 390 |
| Green Bay, WI | $32,720 | 1,260 |
| 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 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,360 | 1,170 |
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,050 | $18.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,590 | $13.74 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,280 | $13.59 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Bartender | $23,130 | $11.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,300 | $28.03 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $34,900 a year, or $16.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $43,640 a year. The top 25% earn $37,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,190 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $28,320 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 660 food preparation workers are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.