Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Milwaukee, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Median annual salary $28,830 -4.4% vs national
Median hourly $13.86
10th percentile $20,870
90th percentile $34,320
Employed locally 2,420
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Milwaukee, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $20,870
    25th
    $23,430
    50th (median)
    $28,830
    75th
    $31,250
    90th
    $34,320

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 38% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 62% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $35,550
    Lewiston-Auburn, ME $35,470
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $34,900
    Lewiston, ID-WA $34,270
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $32,050
    Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $29,470

    Related occupations in Milwaukee, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,210
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,910
    Bartenders $24,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,560
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,540
    Food Preparation Workers $33,280

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Milwaukee?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Milwaukee, WI is $13.86, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.08 or more per hour.

    Is Milwaukee above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Milwaukee, WI is 4.4% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $20,870 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $23,430.