Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Wisconsin
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Wisconsin (2026)
$18.58 per hour · take-home ≈ $32,285/year ($2,690/month) for a single filer
Wisconsin ranks 22nd of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 2% above the national average. Of the 9,890 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Wisconsin, the typical worker earns $38,650 a year — though pay ranges from $32,110 for newcomers to $47,380 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Wisconsin
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $32,110 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $36,040 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $38,650 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $44,300 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $47,380 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 9,890 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Wisconsin (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Wisconsin
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $38,650 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Wisconsin state income tax, a single filer keeps about $32,285 — an effective tax rate of 16.5%.
| Gross (median) | $38,650 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,458 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,957 |
| Wisconsin state income tax | −$950 |
| Take-home (annual) | $32,285 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,690 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Wisconsin paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Wisconsin?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Wisconsin is $38,650 per year ($18.58 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $36,040 and $44,300.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Wisconsin?
- On the median salary of $38,650, a single filer in Wisconsin takes home about $32,285 per year ($2,690 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 16.5%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Wisconsin?
- BLS counts 9,890 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Wisconsin in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Wisconsin
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Wisconsin state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Wisconsin.