How much does a food preparation worker make in La Crosse?
$34,900a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area. That is $16.78 an hour or $2,908 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.78
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 137 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 660
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $24,190Median: $34,900Highest 10%: $43,640
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,190 | $11.63 | |
| 25th | $28,320 | $13.62 | |
| Median | $34,900 | $16.78 | |
| 75th | $37,540 | $18.05 | |
| 90th | $43,640 | $20.98 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Madison, WI | $36,940 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $35,470 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $35,100 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,840 |
| Appleton, WI | $34,060 |
| Duluth, MN | $34,010 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,680 |
| Green Bay, WI | $32,720 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $32,340 |
| Janesville, WI | $32,150 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $31,720 |
| Wausau, WI | $31,720 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $30,810 |
| Racine, WI | $30,460 |
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 Server | $34,850 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 |
| Cook | $28,700 |
| Cook | $28,590 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $28,380 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in La Crosse?
The median hourly pay in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $16.78 ($34,900 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in La Crosse than the national average?
No: $34,900 against $35,320 nationally, 1% less.
How does La Crosse compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $34,070, so La Crosse pays 2% more.
Where does La Crosse rank for food preparation worker pay?
137 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,190 or less a year; the top 10% make $43,640 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.