How much does a cook make in Milwaukee?
$28,910a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area. That is $13.90 an hour or $2,409 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.90
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 167 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 2,230
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,030Median: $28,910Highest 10%: $35,530
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,030 | $10.59 | |
| 25th | $26,880 | $12.92 | |
| Median | $28,910 | $13.90 | |
| 75th | $31,900 | $15.34 | |
| 90th | $35,530 | $17.08 |
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 |
| 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 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 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,440 |
| Cook | $28,130 |
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 $13.90 ($28,910 a year).
Do cooks make more in Milwaukee than the national average?
No: $28,910 against $30,890 nationally, 6% less.
How does Milwaukee compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $28,920, so Milwaukee pays 0% more.
Where does Milwaukee rank for cook pay?
167 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,030 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,530 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.