Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $29.47 an hour ($61,300 a year). About 1,860 people work in this job there.
That is 2% lower than the U.S. median ($62,470). Wisconsin ranks 28th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Wisconsin
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $20.19 | $41,990 |
| 25% of workers | $23.65 | $49,200 |
| Half of workers (median) | $29.47 | $61,300 |
| 75% of workers | $35.62 | $74,080 |
| 90% of workers | $42.10 | $87,570 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Wisconsin metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau | $65,910 | 30 |
| Madison | $64,300 | 270 |
| Sheboygan | $63,430 | 40 |
| Appleton | $62,200 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $61,580 | 570 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $60,890 | 40 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $59,640 | 40 |
| Kenosha | $59,530 | 50 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $59,390 | 50 |
| Eau Claire | $59,240 | 60 |
| Green Bay | $58,480 | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $58,300 | 60 |
Wisconsin unemployment rate: 3.2% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,670 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,550 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,670 |
| Food Batchmakers | $48,360 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,650 |
| Food Service Managers | $61,810 |
| Bakers | $37,310 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,130 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.