Food Preparation Workers pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,920 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Milwaukee earn between $30,310 and $38,560.
- $28K10th
- $30K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,080 | $2,923 | $16.87 |
| Median | $35,470 | $2,956 | $17.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,310 | $2,526 | $14.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,560 | $3,213 | $18.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Milwaukee earn 3% more than the Wisconsin average ($34,000) and about the same as the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $35,080 | $35,470 | $28,250 | $43,920 | 4,500 |
| Wisconsin | $34,000 | $34,070 | $26,080 | $44,290 | 17,990 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Milwaukee
On the average salary of $35,080, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $29,525 a year, or $2,460 a month and $1,136 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 food preparation workers? 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 $35,080 buys what about $36,188 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 2nd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($36,760).
- Madison$36,760
- Milwaukee$35,080
- Kenosha$34,480
- Appleton$33,740
- La Crosse$33,540
- Oshkosh$33,500
- Sheboygan$33,280
- Eau Claire$33,190
- Janesville$32,770
- Wausau$32,570
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Milwaukee: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Milwaukee?
$16.86 an hour on average, and $17.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $29,525 a year ($2,460 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,080.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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