How much does a cook make in Madison?
$28,650a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $13.77 an hour or $2,388 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.77
- Vs. national median
- -20%
- Rank among cities
- 175 of 237
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,530Median: $28,650Highest 10%: $37,620
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,530 | $11.31 | |
| 25th | $28,650 | $13.77 | |
| Median | $28,650 | $13.77 | |
| 75th | $30,340 | $14.59 | |
| 90th | $37,620 | $18.09 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $32,150 |
| Duluth, MN | $29,960 |
| La Crosse, WI | $28,700 |
| Racine, WI | $28,400 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $28,130 |
| Kenosha, WI | $27,790 |
| Green Bay, WI | $27,730 |
| Appleton, WI | $27,720 |
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 |
| Cook | $38,440 |
| 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 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Madison?
The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $13.77 ($28,650 a year).
Do cooks make more in Madison than the national average?
No: $28,650 against $35,880 nationally, 20% less.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,130, so Madison pays 2% more.
Where does Madison rank for cook pay?
175 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,530 or less a year; the top 10% make $37,620 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.