Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,240 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Milwaukee earn between $35,620 and $44,790.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $39KMedian
- $45K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,430 | $3,369 | $19.44 |
| Median | $38,980 | $3,248 | $18.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,620 | $2,968 | $17.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,790 | $3,732 | $21.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Milwaukee earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($39,860) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $40,430 | $38,980 | $34,430 | $48,240 | 2,710 |
| Wisconsin | $39,860 | $38,650 | $32,110 | $47,380 | 9,890 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Milwaukee
On the average salary of $40,430, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $33,560 a year, or $2,797 a month and $1,291 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria? 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 $40,430 buys what about $41,708 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 2nd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($42,010).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Milwaukee: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Milwaukee?
$19.44 an hour on average, and $18.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $33,560 a year ($2,797 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,430.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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