How much does a cook make in Milwaukee?
$38,980a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area. That is $18.74 an hour or $3,248 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.74
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 107 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,710
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,430Median: $38,980Highest 10%: $48,240
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,430 | $16.55 | |
| 25th | $35,620 | $17.13 | |
| Median | $38,980 | $18.74 | |
| 75th | $44,790 | $21.53 | |
| 90th | $48,240 | $23.19 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 |
| Madison, WI | $42,960 |
| Duluth, MN | $40,300 |
| La Crosse, WI | $39,050 |
| 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 Milwaukee
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $40,080 |
| Cook | $37,180 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 |
| Food Server | $34,900 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,330 |
| Dishwasher | $29,170 |
| Cook | $28,910 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,440 |
| Cook | $28,130 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Milwaukee?
The median hourly pay in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $18.74 ($38,980 a year).
Do cooks make more in Milwaukee than the national average?
Yes: $38,980 against $37,450 nationally, 4% more.
How does Milwaukee compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $38,650, so Milwaukee pays 1% more.
Where does Milwaukee rank for cook pay?
107 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,430 or less a year; the top 10% make $48,240 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.