Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $37,180 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,199 take-home, or $2,600 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,282
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,305
- Medicare (1.45%)$539
- Wisconsin income tax$855
- Take-home pay$31,199
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,720 | $14.29 | $25,533 | $2,128 |
| 25th percentile | $31,840 | $15.31 | $27,144 | $2,262 |
| Median (50th) | $37,180 | $17.88 | $31,199 | $2,600 |
| 75th percentile | $42,580 | $20.47 | $35,301 | $2,942 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,710 | $22.46 | $38,437 | $3,203 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,180 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $31,199 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,185 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #45 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 45 | Milwaukee, WI | $37,180 | $31,199 | $32,185 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $38,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $37,180 a year, or about $17.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,840 and $42,580.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $37,180 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $31,199 a year ($2,600 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $855 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,185 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #45 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,980
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,470
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,440
- Bartender — $25,970