Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Racine, WI
Cooks, Restaurant in the Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI metro area earn a median $35,800 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,151 take-home, or $2,513 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Racine, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,116
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,220
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Wisconsin income tax$794
- Take-home pay$30,151
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Racine, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,360 | $13.63 | $24,485 | $2,040 |
| 25th percentile | $30,410 | $14.62 | $26,057 | $2,171 |
| Median (50th) | $35,800 | $17.21 | $30,151 | $2,513 |
| 75th percentile | $38,250 | $18.39 | $32,012 | $2,668 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,080 | $21.67 | $37,199 | $3,100 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,800 buys in Racine, WI
Prices in Racine, WI are 4.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $30,151 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,420 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 Racine, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Racine, WI ranks #196 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 |
| 196 | Racine, WI | $35,800 | $30,151 | $31,420 |
*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
- Appleton, WI — $36,520
- 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
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Racine, WI?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI metro area is $35,800 a year, or about $17.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,410 and $38,250.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Racine, WI?
On the median $35,800 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $30,151 a year ($2,513 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $794 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Racine, WI a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 4.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,420 would in a typical U.S. city. Racine, WI ranks #196 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Racine, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Racine, WI is $988 a month ($1,235 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Racine, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,130
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,460
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,020
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,670
- Bartender — $22,960