Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Appleton, WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median $36,520 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,698 take-home, or $2,558 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Appleton, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,202
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,264
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Wisconsin income tax$826
- Take-home pay$30,698
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Appleton, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,360 | $12.67 | $22,908 | $1,909 |
| 25th percentile | $30,360 | $14.60 | $26,019 | $2,168 |
| Median (50th) | $36,520 | $17.56 | $30,698 | $2,558 |
| 75th percentile | $38,750 | $18.63 | $32,392 | $2,699 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,460 | $21.86 | $37,488 | $3,124 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,520 buys in Appleton, WI
Prices in Appleton, WI are 7.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,698 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,216 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 Appleton, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Appleton, WI ranks #83 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 83 | Appleton, WI | $36,520 | $30,698 | $33,216 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- La Crosse, WI — $36,260
- Green Bay, WI — $36,760
- Madison, WI — $38,440
- Oshkosh, WI — $36,500
- Wausau, WI — $36,180
- Eau Claire, WI — $35,780
- Janesville, WI — $35,920
- Milwaukee, WI — $37,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Appleton, WI?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Appleton, WI metro area is $36,520 a year, or about $17.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,360 and $38,750.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Appleton, WI?
On the median $36,520 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $30,698 a year ($2,558 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $826 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Appleton, WI a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 7.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,216 would in a typical U.S. city. Appleton, WI ranks #83 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Appleton, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Appleton, WI is $960 a month ($1,236 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,500
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,060
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,370
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,010
- Bartender — $23,330