SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $36,550 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $36,550 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $37,390. Half of workers earn between $31,240 and $40,280. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,010 and the ninetieth at $46,270.
The area has 25,410 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.95 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Wisconsin ranks 29th by median wage. Madison leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $38,440. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 671st of 728 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,010 | −25.1% |
| 25th | $31,240 | −16.4% |
| Median (50th) | $36,550 | −2.2% |
| 75th | $40,280 | +7.7% |
| 90th | $46,270 | +23.7% |
| Mean | $36,690 | −1.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Wisconsin
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $36,550 goes as far as $38,842 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$38,842US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,550 a year, 2.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,010 to $46,270 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 25,410 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 29th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Madison, at $38,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage is $36,550, or $17.57 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,390, so pay in Wisconsin is 2.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Wisconsin earns more than $46,270 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,010 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Madison, at $38,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 25,410 jobs in this occupation in Wisconsin. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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