Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $38,980 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,566 take-home, or $2,714 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,498
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,417
- Medicare (1.45%)$565
- Wisconsin income tax$934
- Take-home pay$32,566
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,430 | $16.55 | $29,111 | $2,426 |
| 25th percentile | $35,620 | $17.13 | $30,014 | $2,501 |
| Median (50th) | $38,980 | $18.74 | $32,566 | $2,714 |
| 75th percentile | $44,790 | $21.53 | $36,979 | $3,082 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,240 | $23.19 | $39,599 | $3,300 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,980 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, institution and cafeteria's $32,566 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,595 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, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #15 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,980 | $32,566 | $33,595 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $38,980 a year, or about $18.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,620 and $44,790.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $38,980 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $32,566 a year ($2,714 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $934 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,595 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #15 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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) — 41% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’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, Restaurant — $37,180
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,470
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,440
- Bartender — $25,970