Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Appleton, WI

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

Median annual salary $36,860 +0.1% vs national
Median hourly $17.72
10th percentile $28,010
90th percentile $47,470
Employed locally 1,000
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Appleton, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,010
    25th
    $31,780
    50th (median)
    $36,860
    75th
    $38,960
    90th
    $47,470

    Appleton economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $83,919 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 44% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Lewiston-Auburn, ME $44,100
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $39,710
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $39,340
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $39,110
    Madison, WI $38,400
    Kenosha, WI $37,570

    Related occupations in Appleton, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,350
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,130
    Bartenders $22,670
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,620
    Food Preparation Workers $31,680
    Dishwashers $23,810

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Appleton?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Appleton, WI is $17.72, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.86 or more per hour.

    Is Appleton above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Appleton, WI is 0.1% above the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Appleton?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $28,010 per year in Appleton, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,780.