Cooks, Short Order pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,620 or more. The middle half of cooks, short order in Madison earn between $28,650 and $30,340.
- $24K10th
- $29K25th
- $29KMedian
- $30K75th
- $38K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,980 | $2,498 | $14.41 |
| Median | $28,650 | $2,388 | $13.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,650 | $2,388 | $13.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,340 | $2,528 | $14.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Short Order pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Cooks, short order in Madison earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($30,050) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($36,120). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $35,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $29,980 | $28,650 | $23,530 | $37,620 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $30,050 | $28,130 | $22,550 | $39,080 | 2,270 |
| United States | $36,120 | $35,880 | $23,440 | $46,460 | 138,650 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Short Order salary after taxes in Madison
On the average salary of $29,980, a single filer in Madison takes home about $25,679 a year, or $2,140 a month and $988 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 cooks, short order? 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 $29,980 buys what about $30,816 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 7th of 7 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; La Crosse pays the most ($31,510).
Highest-paying cities for cooks, short order
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,560).
- Kahului, HI$52,560
- Denver, CO$51,530
- Seattle, WA$49,560
- Corvallis, OR$48,580
- San Francisco, CA$46,250
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Cooks, Short Order salary in Madison: questions
How much do cooks, short order make an hour in Madison?
$14.41 an hour on average, and $13.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, short order salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, short order take-home pay in Madison?
About $25,679 a year ($2,140 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,980.
Do cooks, short order earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,120).
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 35-2015; area Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- 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).
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