How much does a cook make in Madison?
$29,640a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $14.25 an hour or $2,470 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.25
- Vs. national median
- -4%
- Rank among cities
- 134 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 960
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $18,450Median: $29,640Highest 10%: $35,870
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,450 | $8.87 | |
| 25th | $27,540 | $13.24 | |
| Median | $29,640 | $14.25 | |
| 75th | $34,020 | $16.36 | |
| 90th | $35,870 | $17.25 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Minneapolis, MN | $36,380 |
| Duluth, MN | $30,790 |
| Janesville, WI | $29,930 |
| 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 |
| La Crosse, WI | $28,590 |
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 |
| Host and Hostess | $29,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Madison?
The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $14.25 ($29,640 a year).
Do cooks make more in Madison than the national average?
No: $29,640 against $30,890 nationally, 4% less.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,920, so Madison pays 2% more.
Where does Madison rank for cook pay?
134 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $18,450 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,870 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.