How much does a cook make in Appleton?
$27,720a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Appleton, WI metro area. That is $13.33 an hour or $2,310 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.33
- Vs. national median
- -23%
- Rank among cities
- 196 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 80
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,620Median: $27,720Highest 10%: $40,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,620 | $11.36 | |
| 25th | $27,620 | $13.28 | |
| Median | $27,720 | $13.33 | |
| 75th | $30,980 | $14.89 | |
| 90th | $40,500 | $19.47 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $32,150 |
| Duluth, MN | $29,960 |
| La Crosse, WI | $28,700 |
| Madison, WI | $28,650 |
| Racine, WI | $28,400 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $28,130 |
| Kenosha, WI | $27,790 |
| Green Bay, WI | $27,730 |
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 |
| Cook | $36,520 |
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Appleton?
The median hourly pay in the Appleton, WI metro area is $13.33 ($27,720 a year).
Do cooks make more in Appleton than the national average?
No: $27,720 against $35,880 nationally, 23% less.
How does Appleton compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,130, so Appleton pays 1% less.
Where does Appleton rank for cook pay?
196 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,620 or less a year; the top 10% make $40,500 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.