How much does a cook make in La Crosse?
$39,050a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area. That is $18.77 an hour or $3,254 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.77
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 106 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 310
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,760Median: $39,050Highest 10%: $45,310
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,760 | $15.27 | |
| 25th | $36,300 | $17.45 | |
| Median | $39,050 | $18.77 | |
| 75th | $43,340 | $20.84 | |
| 90th | $45,310 | $21.78 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 |
| Madison, WI | $42,960 |
| Duluth, MN | $40,300 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $38,980 |
| Racine, WI | $38,880 |
| Green Bay, WI | $38,640 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $38,530 |
| Janesville, WI | $38,440 |
| Wausau, WI | $38,170 |
| Kenosha, WI | $38,150 |
| Appleton, WI | $38,110 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $37,990 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $37,470 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $37,200 |
Related jobs in La Crosse
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $58,300 |
| 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 cook make an hour in La Crosse?
The median hourly pay in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $18.77 ($39,050 a year).
Do cooks make more in La Crosse than the national average?
Yes: $39,050 against $37,450 nationally, 4% more.
How does La Crosse compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $38,650, so La Crosse pays 1% more.
Where does La Crosse rank for cook pay?
106 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,760 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,310 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.