How much does a chef and head cook make in Madison?
$64,300a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $30.91 an hour or $5,358 a month.
- Hourly
- $30.91
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 74 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 270
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $49,200Median: $64,300Highest 10%: $87,570
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,200 | $23.65 | |
| 25th | $55,620 | $26.74 | |
| Median | $64,300 | $30.91 | |
| 75th | $79,390 | $38.17 | |
| 90th | $87,570 | $42.10 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| 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 |
| La Crosse, WI | $58,300 |
| Duluth, MN | $56,790 |
Related jobs in Madison
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,060 |
| Cook | $42,960 |
| Cook | $38,440 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 |
| Food Server | $36,110 |
| Dishwasher | $32,750 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,910 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,820 |
| Cook | $29,640 |
| Host and Hostess | $29,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Madison?
The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $30.91 ($64,300 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Madison than the national average?
Yes: $64,300 against $62,470 nationally, 3% more.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $61,300, so Madison pays 5% more.
Where does Madison rank for chef and head cook pay?
74 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $87,570 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.