How much does a cook make in La Crosse?
$36,260a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area. That is $17.43 an hour or $3,022 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.43
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 183 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 860
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,050Median: $36,260Highest 10%: $45,060
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,050 | $13.49 | |
| 25th | $31,080 | $14.94 | |
| Median | $36,260 | $17.43 | |
| 75th | $38,510 | $18.51 | |
| 90th | $45,060 | $21.66 |
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 |
| Appleton, WI | $36,520 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $36,500 |
| 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 La Crosse
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $58,300 |
| Cook | $39,050 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,460 |
| 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 $17.43 ($36,260 a year).
Do cooks make more in La Crosse than the national average?
No: $36,260 against $37,390 nationally, 3% less.
How does La Crosse compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $36,550, so La Crosse pays 1% less.
Where does La Crosse rank for cook pay?
183 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,050 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,060 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.