How much does a cook make in Appleton?
$29,050a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Appleton, WI metro area. That is $13.97 an hour or $2,421 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.97
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 159 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 280
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,460Median: $29,050Highest 10%: $34,640
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,460 | $11.76 | |
| 25th | $28,600 | $13.75 | |
| Median | $29,050 | $13.97 | |
| 75th | $33,370 | $16.04 | |
| 90th | $34,640 | $16.65 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $36,380 |
| Duluth, MN | $30,790 |
| Janesville, WI | $29,930 |
| Madison, WI | $29,640 |
| Wausau, WI | $29,600 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29,100 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $28,910 |
| Racine, WI | $28,810 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28,750 |
| Green Bay, WI | $28,740 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $28,700 |
| La Crosse, WI | $28,590 |
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 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,010 |
| Host and Hostess | $27,870 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Appleton?
The median hourly pay in the Appleton, WI metro area is $13.97 ($29,050 a year).
Do cooks make more in Appleton than the national average?
No: $29,050 against $30,890 nationally, 6% less.
How does Appleton compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,920, so Appleton pays 0% more.
Where does Appleton rank for cook pay?
159 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,460 or less a year; the top 10% make $34,640 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.