Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,010 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Appleton earn between $47,670 and $72,400.
- $39K10th
- $48K25th
- $62KMedian
- $72K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,010 | $5,084 | $29.33 |
| Median | $62,200 | $5,183 | $29.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,670 | $3,972 | $22.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,400 | $6,033 | $34.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Appleton earn 5% less than the Wisconsin average ($64,210) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $61,010 | $62,200 | $39,020 | $80,010 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $64,210 | $61,300 | $41,990 | $87,570 | 1,860 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Appleton
On the average salary of $61,010, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $49,082 a year, or $4,090 a month and $1,888 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $61,010 buys what about $66,015 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 8th of 12 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($68,460).
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Appleton: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Appleton?
$29.33 an hour on average, and $29.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Appleton?
About $49,082 a year ($4,090 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,010.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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