Food Preparation Worker Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Food Preparation Workers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $35,470 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,900 take-home, or $2,492 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,076
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,199
- Medicare (1.45%)$514
- Wisconsin income tax$780
- Take-home pay$29,900
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,250 | $13.58 | $24,398 | $2,033 |
| 25th percentile | $30,310 | $14.57 | $25,981 | $2,165 |
| Median (50th) | $35,470 | $17.05 | $29,900 | $2,492 |
| 75th percentile | $38,560 | $18.54 | $32,247 | $2,687 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,920 | $21.12 | $36,318 | $3,027 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,470 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 food preparation worker's $29,900 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,845 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #13 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $35,470 | $29,900 | $30,845 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $35,470 a year, or about $17.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,310 and $38,560.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $35,470 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $29,900 a year ($2,492 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $780 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,845 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #13 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 45% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,180
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,440
- Bartender — $25,970