Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Madison, WI

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

Median annual salary $40,330 +10.6% vs national
Median hourly $19.39
10th percentile $31,610
90th percentile $49,520
Employed locally 990
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
in
Madison, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,610
    25th
    $36,620
    50th (median)
    $40,330
    75th
    $45,810
    90th
    $49,520

    Madison economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,827 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 46% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 54% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $45,260
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $44,990
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $43,200
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $39,910
    Lewiston-Auburn, ME $39,380
    Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $39,210

    Related occupations in Madison, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,920
    Waiters and Waitresses $30,520
    Bartenders $22,450
    Cooks, Restaurant $38,400
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,580
    Food Preparation Workers $35,260

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Madison?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Madison, WI is $19.39, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.29 or more per hour.

    Is Madison above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Madison, WI is 10.6% above the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Madison?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $31,610 per year in Madison, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,620.