Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $39,050 a year ($18.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 310 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,310 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 1% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $38,650. There are 3.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,760 | $15.27 |
| 25th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Median | $39,050 | $18.77 |
| 75th percentile | $43,340 | $20.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,310 | $21.78 |
| Average (mean) | $39,180 | $18.84 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,254.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,627.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,501.92 |
| Weekly | $750.96 |
| Hourly | $18.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $44,830 | 4,490 |
| Rochester, MN | $43,160 | 330 |
| Madison, WI | $42,960 | 1,030 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $41,120 | 450 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $40,590 | 300 |
| Mankato, MN | $40,410 | 150 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $40,300 | 530 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,980 | 2,710 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $38,880 | 250 |
| Green Bay, WI | $38,640 | 480 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $38,530 | 240 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $38,500 | 200 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $38,440 | 210 |
| Wausau, WI | $38,170 | 160 |
| Kenosha, WI | $38,150 | 240 |
| Appleton, WI | $38,110 | 340 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $37,990 | 330 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $37,470 | 210 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,240 | 630 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $37,200 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,900 | $16.78 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,590 | $13.74 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,280 | $13.59 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| Bartender | $23,130 | $11.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,300 | $28.03 |
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 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $39,050 a year, or $18.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $45,310 a year. The top 25% earn $43,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,760 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $36,300 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 310 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.