How much does a cook make in Appleton?
$36,520a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Appleton, WI metro area. That is $17.56 an hour or $3,043 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.56
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 161 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 1,060
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $26,360Median: $36,520Highest 10%: $45,460
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,360 | $12.67 | |
| 25th | $30,360 | $14.60 | |
| Median | $36,520 | $17.56 | |
| 75th | $38,750 | $18.63 | |
| 90th | $45,460 | $21.86 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $39,640 |
| Madison, WI | $38,440 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $37,180 |
| Green Bay, WI | $36,760 |
| Kenosha, WI | $36,730 |
| Duluth, MN | $36,680 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $36,500 |
| La Crosse, WI | $36,260 |
| Wausau, WI | $36,180 |
| Janesville, WI | $35,920 |
| Racine, WI | $35,800 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $35,780 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $35,720 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $35,360 |
Related jobs in Appleton
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $62,200 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,500 |
| Cook | $38,110 |
| Food Server | $34,280 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,060 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,370 |
| Dishwasher | $29,370 |
| Cook | $29,050 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,010 |
| Host and Hostess | $27,870 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Appleton?
The median hourly pay in the Appleton, WI metro area is $17.56 ($36,520 a year).
Do cooks make more in Appleton than the national average?
No: $36,520 against $37,390 nationally, 2% less.
How does Appleton compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $36,550, so Appleton pays 0% more.
Where does Appleton rank for cook pay?
161 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $26,360 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,460 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.