Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median of $61,580 a year ($29.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,380 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is about the same as the Wisconsin statewide median of $61,300. There are 0.70 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $66,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,970 | $20.66 |
| 25th percentile | $50,480 | $24.27 |
| Median | $61,580 | $29.61 |
| 75th percentile | $75,950 | $36.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,380 | $42.49 |
| Average (mean) | $66,360 | $31.91 |
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 | $5,131.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,565.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,368.46 |
| Weekly | $1,184.23 |
| Hourly | $29.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,580 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 |
| Appleton, WI | $62,200 | 90 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,890 | 40 |
| 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 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $58,300 | 60 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $56,790 | 100 |
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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,440 | $13.67 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,330 | $14.58 |
| Bartender | $25,970 | $12.49 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,980 | $18.74 |
| Dishwasher | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,910 | $13.90 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,310 | $13.13 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,010 | $13.47 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,470 | $12.25 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $61,580 a year, or $29.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn at least $88,380 a year. The top 25% earn $75,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,970 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $50,480 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About 570 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.