Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in La Crosse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,380 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in La Crosse earn between $44,800 and $64,290.
- $31K10th
- $45K25th
- $58KMedian
- $64K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,160 | $4,680 | $27.00 |
| Median | $58,300 | $4,858 | $28.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,800 | $3,733 | $21.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,290 | $5,358 | $30.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in La Crosse vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in La Crosse earn 13% less than the Wisconsin average ($64,210) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | $56,160 | $58,300 | $31,460 | $74,380 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $64,210 | $61,300 | $41,990 | $87,570 | 1,860 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in La Crosse
On the average salary of $56,160, a single filer in La Crosse takes home about $45,424 a year, or $3,785 a month and $1,747 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $45,424 | $3,785 |
| Working in MN | $45,009 | $3,751 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is La Crosse a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the La Crosse area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $56,160 buys what about $61,197 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in La Crosse ($48,260). A typical home costs $335,330, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Wisconsin cities
La Crosse ranks 12th of 12 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($68,460).
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in La Crosse: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in La Crosse?
$27.00 an hour on average, and $28.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in La Crosse?
About $45,424 a year ($3,785 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,160.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in La Crosse than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (29100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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