Cooks, Restaurant pay in Madison
In Madison (WI), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $18.48 an hour ($38,440 a year). About 3,190 people work in this job there.
That is 3% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 5% higher than the Wisconsin median ($36,550).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Madison (WI)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $14.80 | $30,790 |
| 25% of workers | $16.82 | $34,990 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.48 | $38,440 |
| 75% of workers | $21.41 | $44,530 |
| 90% of workers | $22.64 | $47,090 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Wisconsin metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Madison (this page) | $38,440 | 3,190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $37,180 | 7,220 |
| Green Bay | $36,760 | 1,620 |
| Kenosha | $36,730 | 640 |
| Appleton | $36,520 | 1,060 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $36,500 | 700 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $36,260 | 860 |
| Wausau | $36,180 | 530 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $35,920 | 640 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $35,800 | 600 |
| Eau Claire | $35,780 | 790 |
| Fond du Lac | $35,720 | 320 |
| Sheboygan | $35,360 | 450 |
Wisconsin unemployment rate: 3.2% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Madison (WI)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $36,940 |
| Food Batchmakers | $46,580 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 |
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.