Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Oshkosh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,580 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Oshkosh earn between $44,060 and $72,020.
- $39K10th
- $44K25th
- $59KMedian
- $72K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,620 | $4,968 | $28.66 |
| Median | $59,390 | $4,949 | $28.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,060 | $3,672 | $21.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,020 | $6,002 | $34.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Oshkosh vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Oshkosh earn 7% less than the Wisconsin average ($64,210) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh | $59,620 | $59,390 | $38,760 | $79,580 | 50 |
| 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 Oshkosh
On the average salary of $59,620, a single filer in Oshkosh takes home about $48,034 a year, or $4,003 a month and $1,847 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Oshkosh a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Oshkosh area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $59,620 buys what about $64,157 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Oshkosh ($54,060). A typical home costs $304,543, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Wisconsin cities
Oshkosh ranks 10th 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 Oshkosh: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Oshkosh?
$28.66 an hour on average, and $28.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Oshkosh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Oshkosh?
About $48,034 a year ($4,003 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,620.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Oshkosh than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI (36780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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 0.41, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.41).
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