Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Wausau, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Wausau, WI

Median annual salary $27,290 -9.5% vs national
Median hourly $13.12
10th percentile $23,140
90th percentile $32,760
Employed locally 220
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Wausau, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,140
    25th
    $26,030
    50th (median)
    $27,290
    75th
    $30,840
    90th
    $32,760

    Wausau economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,185 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 36% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 64% 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 Wausau, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,890
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,010
    Bartenders $22,100
    Cooks, Restaurant $36,670
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,490
    Food Preparation Workers $30,930

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Wausau, WI is $13.12, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.20 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Wausau, WI is 9.5% 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 Wausau?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $23,140 per year in Wausau, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $26,030.