How much does a cook make in Madison?
$38,440a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $18.48 an hour or $3,203 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.48
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 74 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 3,190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,790Median: $38,440Highest 10%: $47,090
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,790 | $14.80 | |
| 25th | $34,990 | $16.82 | |
| Median | $38,440 | $18.48 | |
| 75th | $44,530 | $21.41 | |
| 90th | $47,090 | $22.64 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $39,640 |
| 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 |
| 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 Madison
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,300 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,060 |
| Cook | $42,960 |
| 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 $18.48 ($38,440 a year).
Do cooks make more in Madison than the national average?
Yes: $38,440 against $37,390 nationally, 3% more.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $36,550, so Madison pays 5% more.
Where does Madison rank for cook pay?
74 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,790 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,090 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.