How much does a cook make in Milwaukee?
$28,130a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area. That is $13.52 an hour or $2,344 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.52
- Vs. national median
- -22%
- Rank among cities
- 188 of 237
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,130Median: $28,130Highest 10%: $39,080
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,130 | $13.52 | |
| 25th | $28,130 | $13.52 | |
| Median | $28,130 | $13.52 | |
| 75th | $28,230 | $13.57 | |
| 90th | $39,080 | $18.79 |
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 |
| Kenosha, WI | $27,790 |
| Green Bay, WI | $27,730 |
| Appleton, WI | $27,720 |
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 |
| Cook | $37,180 |
| 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 |
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 $13.52 ($28,130 a year).
Do cooks make more in Milwaukee than the national average?
No: $28,130 against $35,880 nationally, 22% less.
How does Milwaukee compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,130, so Milwaukee pays 0% more.
Where does Milwaukee rank for cook pay?
188 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,130 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,080 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.