La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

In the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $35,900 ($17.26/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,100/year and the 90th was $44,500/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Minnesota tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $29,924 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 91.8 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$35,900$17.26 per hour · $2,992 monthly
10th Percentile$29,100$13.99/hr base
25th Percentile$33,500$16.11/hr base
75th Percentile$42,200$20.29/hr base
90th Percentile$44,500$21.39/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$35,900
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$35,900
Net 83%
Fed 6%
MN 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$29,924After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,494Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,151Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.7%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,128 / yr
Minnesota state income tax$1,102 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,746 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MN)
10th Percentile$13.99/hr$2,425$29,100$24,824
25th Percentile$16.11/hr$2,792$33,500$28,124
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$17.26/hr$2,992$35,900$29,924
75th Percentile$20.29/hr$3,517$42,200$34,649
90th Percentile$21.39/hr$3,708$44,500$36,374

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$35,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$73,340Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index91.88.2% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio49%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Minnesota:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN is $35,900, which equates to approximately $2,992 per month or $17.26 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN is $17.26 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.99/hour and one in ten earned more than $21.39/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN span from $29,100 at the 10th percentile to $33,500 at the 25th, $42,200 at the 75th, and $44,500 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

On a median gross salary of $35,900, an estimated $29,924 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,151 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Minnesota in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,976 (an effective rate of 16.6%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

On the median annual salary of $35,900, gross monthly income is $2,992. After federal, FICA, and Minnesota state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,494 per month (or $1,151 every two weeks).

Is $35,900 a good salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?

At $35,900, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 49% of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN median household income ($73,340). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 91.8, making regional consumer goods and services 8.2% cheaper than the U.S. average.