Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in La Crosse, WI-MN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

Median annual salary $59,860 -1.9% vs national
Median hourly $28.78
10th percentile $41,060
90th percentile $81,620
Employed locally 50
National median $60,990

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,060
    25th
    $49,530
    50th (median)
    $59,860
    75th
    $65,900
    90th
    $81,620

    La Crosse economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,009 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 84% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 16% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $78,390
    Wildwood-The Villages, FL $65,290
    Sheboygan, WI $63,740
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $63,360
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $62,980
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $62,230

    Related occupations in La Crosse, WI-MN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,580
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,960
    Bartenders $23,850
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,510
    Food Preparation Workers $33,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,890

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in La Crosse?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in La Crosse, WI-MN is $28.78, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.76 or more per hour.

    Is La Crosse above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in La Crosse, WI-MN is 1.9% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in La Crosse?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $41,060 per year in La Crosse, WI-MN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $49,530.