Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,380 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Milwaukee earn between $50,480 and $75,950.
- $43K10th
- $50K25th
- $62KMedian
- $76K75th
- $88K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,360 | $5,530 | $31.90 |
| Median | $61,580 | $5,132 | $29.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,480 | $4,207 | $24.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,950 | $6,329 | $36.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Milwaukee earn 3% more than the Wisconsin average ($64,210) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $66,360 | $61,580 | $42,970 | $88,380 | 570 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $66,360, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $53,070 a year, or $4,422 a month and $2,041 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 Milwaukee a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $66,360 buys what about $68,457 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 2nd 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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Milwaukee?
$31.91 an hour on average, and $29.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $53,070 a year ($4,422 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,360.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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