How much does a cook make in Madison?
$42,960a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $20.65 an hour or $3,580 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.65
- Vs. national median
- +15%
- Rank among cities
- 72 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,030
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,050Median: $42,960Highest 10%: $48,440
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,050 | $16.37 | |
| 25th | $37,510 | $18.03 | |
| Median | $42,960 | $20.65 | |
| 75th | $45,690 | $21.97 | |
| 90th | $48,440 | $23.29 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 |
| Duluth, MN | $40,300 |
| La Crosse, WI | $39,050 |
| 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 Madison
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,300 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,060 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Madison?
The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $20.65 ($42,960 a year).
Do cooks make more in Madison than the national average?
Yes: $42,960 against $37,450 nationally, 15% more.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $38,650, so Madison pays 11% more.
Where does Madison rank for cook pay?
72 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,050 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,440 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.