How much does a cook make in La Crosse?
$28,700a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area. That is $13.80 an hour or $2,392 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.80
- Vs. national median
- -20%
- Rank among cities
- 172 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,600Median: $28,700Highest 10%: $38,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,600 | $10.87 | |
| 25th | $27,260 | $13.11 | |
| Median | $28,700 | $13.80 | |
| 75th | $35,870 | $17.25 | |
| 90th | $38,800 | $18.65 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $32,150 |
| Duluth, MN | $29,960 |
| Madison, WI | $28,650 |
| Racine, WI | $28,400 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $28,130 |
| Kenosha, WI | $27,790 |
| Green Bay, WI | $27,730 |
| Appleton, WI | $27,720 |
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 |
| Cook | $36,260 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 |
| Food Server | $34,850 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 |
| 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 $13.80 ($28,700 a year).
Do cooks make more in La Crosse than the national average?
No: $28,700 against $35,880 nationally, 20% less.
How does La Crosse compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,130, so La Crosse pays 2% more.
Where does La Crosse rank for cook pay?
172 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,600 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,800 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.