How much does a chef and head cook make in La Crosse?
$58,300a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area. That is $28.03 an hour or $4,858 a month.
- Hourly
- $28.03
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 181 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,460Median: $58,300Highest 10%: $74,380
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,460 | $15.13 | |
| 25th | $44,800 | $21.54 | |
| Median | $58,300 | $28.03 | |
| 75th | $64,290 | $30.91 | |
| 90th | $74,380 | $35.76 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Madison, WI | $64,300 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $63,240 |
| Appleton, WI | $62,200 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $61,580 |
| Kenosha, WI | $59,530 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $59,390 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $59,240 |
| Green Bay, WI | $58,480 |
| Duluth, MN | $56,790 |
Related jobs in La Crosse
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cook | $39,050 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,460 |
| Cook | $36,260 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 |
| Food Server | $34,850 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 |
| Cook | $28,700 |
| Cook | $28,590 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $28,380 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in La Crosse?
The median hourly pay in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $28.03 ($58,300 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in La Crosse than the national average?
No: $58,300 against $62,470 nationally, 7% less.
How does La Crosse compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $61,300, so La Crosse pays 5% less.
Where does La Crosse rank for chef and head cook pay?
181 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,460 or less a year; the top 10% make $74,380 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.