Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria · Wisconsin

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Wisconsin

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wisconsin earn a median annual wage of $38,650 —3.2% above the national median of $37,450. That ranks WI #22 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$38,650
Median hourly
$18.58
Entry level (P10)
$32,110
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$47,380
90th percentile
Employment
9,890
3.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+3.2%
U.S. $37,450

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$32,110
$36,040
$38,650
$44,300
$32,110$38,650$47,380
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $38,650.

Employment is 1.19× as concentrated as the national average, making Wisconsin a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Wisconsin is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$49,670$23.889,7800.97
2Alaska$48,580$23.361,4301.55
3Massachusetts$47,790$22.987,4300.72
4Hawaii$47,770$22.971,5700.88
5Rhode Island$46,570$22.391,1900.84
6California$46,390$22.3131,6600.61
7Vermont$46,370$22.291,3301.55
8Connecticut$46,120$22.174,5000.94
9New York$45,880$22.0617,6700.64
10District of Columbia$45,450$21.851,5000.75

Related occupations in Wisconsin

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Wisconsin.

OccupationWisconsin medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,600$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$29,670$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$36,550$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,670$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$34,070$35,320
Bartenders$23,460$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Wisconsin?

The median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Wisconsin is $38,650, or $18.58 per hour. That is 3.2% above the national median of $37,450.

What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Wisconsin?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $32,110 per year ($15.44/hour). The 25th percentile is $36,040.

How many people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Wisconsin?

About 9,890 people work in this occupation in Wisconsin, or 3.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Wisconsin a good state for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

Wisconsin ranks #22 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.19x as concentrated as the national average, making Wisconsin a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $49,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes