Cooks, Short Order Salary in Milwaukee, WI

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

Median annual salary $27,300 -23.4% vs national
Median hourly $13.13
10th percentile $27,300
90th percentile $35,120
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Milwaukee, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,300
    25th
    $27,300
    50th (median)
    $27,300
    75th
    $28,610
    90th
    $35,120

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 36% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 64% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $38,070
    Lewiston-Auburn, ME $37,330
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $33,760
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $32,510
    Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $32,430
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $31,200

    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, Short Order make per hour in Milwaukee?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Milwaukee, WI is $13.13, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.79 or more per hour.

    Is Milwaukee above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Milwaukee, WI is 23.4% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $27,300 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $27,300.