Cooks, Restaurant Salary in La Crosse, WI-MN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

Median annual salary $36,510 -0.9% vs national
Median hourly $17.55
10th percentile $27,430
90th percentile $46,010
Employed locally 900
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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La Crosse, WI-MN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,430
    25th
    $31,260
    50th (median)
    $36,510
    75th
    $39,210
    90th
    $46,010

    La Crosse economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,009 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 51% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 49% 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 La Crosse, WI-MN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $28,580
    Waiters and Waitresses $28,960
    Bartenders $23,850
    Food Preparation Workers $33,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $39,890
    Dishwashers $27,690

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in La Crosse?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in La Crosse, WI-MN is $17.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.66 or more per hour.

    Is La Crosse above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in La Crosse, WI-MN is 0.9% below 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 La Crosse?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $27,430 per year in La Crosse, WI-MN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $31,260.