How much does a cook make in Milwaukee?
$37,180a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area. That is $17.88 an hour or $3,098 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.88
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 119 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 7,220
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,720Median: $37,180Highest 10%: $46,710
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,720 | $14.29 | |
| 25th | $31,840 | $15.31 | |
| Median | $37,180 | $17.88 | |
| 75th | $42,580 | $20.47 | |
| 90th | $46,710 | $22.46 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $39,640 |
| Madison, WI | $38,440 |
| 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 Milwaukee
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $40,080 |
| Cook | $38,980 |
| 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 $17.88 ($37,180 a year).
Do cooks make more in Milwaukee than the national average?
No: $37,180 against $37,390 nationally, 1% less.
How does Milwaukee compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $36,550, so Milwaukee pays 2% more.
Where does Milwaukee rank for cook pay?
119 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,720 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,710 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.