Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Wisconsin make a median of $61,300 a year, or about $29.47 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $64,985 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 29.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Wisconsin?
About chefs and head cooks
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Chefs and head cooks pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Wisconsin
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau | $66K | +8% | 30 |
| Madison | $64K | +5% | 270 |
| Sheboygan | $63K | +3% | 40 |
| Appleton | $62K | +1% | 90 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $62K | +0% | 570 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $61K | -1% | 40 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $60K | -3% | 40 |
| Kenosha | $60K | -3% | 50 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $59K | -3% | 50 |
| Eau Claire | $59K | -3% | 60 |
| Green Bay | $58K | -5% | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $58K | -5% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,519/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Wisconsin pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Wisconsin?
The median is $61,300 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,990, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $87,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,091/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 29.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $64,985 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.