How much does a cook make in La Crosse?
$28,590a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area. That is $13.75 an hour or $2,383 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.75
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 182 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $23,380Median: $28,590Highest 10%: $34,150
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,380 | $11.24 | |
| 25th | $28,200 | $13.56 | |
| Median | $28,590 | $13.75 | |
| 75th | $32,980 | $15.86 | |
| 90th | $34,150 | $16.42 |
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 |
| Appleton, WI | $29,050 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $28,910 |
| Racine, WI | $28,810 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28,750 |
| Green Bay, WI | $28,740 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $28,700 |
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 | $28,700 |
| 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 $13.75 ($28,590 a year).
Do cooks make more in La Crosse than the national average?
No: $28,590 against $30,890 nationally, 7% less.
How does La Crosse compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,920, so La Crosse pays 1% less.
Where does La Crosse rank for cook pay?
182 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% make $23,380 or less a year; the top 10% make $34,150 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.