Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Milwaukee, WI

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

Median annual salary $37,880 +3.9% vs national
Median hourly $18.21
10th percentile $31,810
90th percentile $48,420
Employed locally 2,550
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary & buying power

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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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Milwaukee, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,810
    25th
    $33,760
    50th (median)
    $37,880
    75th
    $44,480
    90th
    $48,420

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 50% 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
    Madison, WI $40,330
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $39,910
    Lewiston-Auburn, ME $39,380

    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, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Milwaukee?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Milwaukee, WI is $18.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.19 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Milwaukee, WI is 3.9% 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 Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $31,810 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,760.