Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $87,570 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Madison earn between $55,620 and $79,390.
- $49K10th
- $56K25th
- $64KMedian
- $79K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,460 | $5,705 | $32.91 |
| Median | $64,300 | $5,358 | $30.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,620 | $4,635 | $26.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,390 | $6,616 | $38.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Madison earn 7% more than the Wisconsin average ($64,210) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $68,460 | $64,300 | $49,200 | $87,570 | 270 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $68,460, a single filer in Madison takes home about $54,436 a year, or $4,536 a month and $2,094 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $68,460 buys what about $70,369 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 12 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Madison: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Madison?
$32.91 an hour on average, and $30.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Madison?
About $54,436 a year ($4,536 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,460.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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