Chefs and Head Cooks salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $58,300 a year ($28.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,380 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 5% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $61,300. There are 0.69 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $56,160, close to the median.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| 25th percentile | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| Median | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| 75th percentile | $64,290 | $30.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,380 | $35.76 |
| Average (mean) | $56,160 | $27.00 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,858.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,429.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,242.31 |
| Weekly | $1,121.15 |
| Hourly | $28.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WI | $65,910 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $64,300 | 270 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $63,430 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $63,240 | 1,280 |
| Rochester, MN | $62,520 | 90 |
| Appleton, WI | $62,200 | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,580 | 570 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,890 | 40 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $60,500 | 40 |
| Mankato, MN | $60,050 | 30 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $59,640 | 40 |
| Kenosha, WI | $59,530 | 50 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $59,390 | 50 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $59,240 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $58,480 | 100 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $56,790 | 100 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $54,390 | 40 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $50,150 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,280 | $13.59 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Bartender | $23,130 | $11.12 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $39,050 | $18.77 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| Dishwasher | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,590 | $13.74 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,700 | $13.80 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $58,300 a year, or $28.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $74,380 a year. The top 25% earn $64,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,460 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $44,800 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 60 chefs and head cooks are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.