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Appleton, WI metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Appleton, WI?

In the Appleton, WI metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $34,060 a year ($16.37 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 650 of these jobs there. That is 32% below the $49,910 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $23,990 and $45,050; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Wisconsin tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $28,756 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Appleton, WI at a glance

Median salary

$34,060$16.37 per hour · $2,838 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$23,990$11.53/hr
25th percentile$28,280$13.59/hr
75th percentile$38,200$18.36/hr
90th percentile$45,050$21.66/hr
Jobs in this metro650Location quotient 0.91 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here32% belowAll-jobs median $49,910
Against Wisconsinabout the same asStatewide median $34,070
Against the U.S.4% belowNational median $35,320

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

Take-home payWhat $34,000 a year leaves after tax in WisconsinFederal tax, FICA and Wisconsin withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$16 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $34,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $34,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Wisconsin publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Wisconsin.

Food preparation worker salary in Appleton, WI after taxes

$34,060
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,060
Net 84%
Fed 6%
WI 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,756After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,396Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,106Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.6%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,907 / yr
Wisconsin state income tax$791 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,606 / yr
Customize deductions in full Wisconsin calculator

Food preparation workers pay range in Appleton, WI, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Appleton, WI metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Appleton, WI metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (WI)
10th percentile$11.53/hr$1,999$23,990$21,023
25th percentile$13.59/hr$2,357$28,280$24,388
MedianMedian$16.37/hr$2,838$34,060$28,756
75th percentile$18.36/hr$3,183$38,200$31,878
90th percentile$21.66/hr$3,754$45,050$37,045

Is $34,060 a good salary in Appleton, WI?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$85,825Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)92.47.6% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household39.7%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Food preparation workers pay in other Wisconsin metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Appleton, WI. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Appleton, WI: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Appleton, WI?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Appleton, WI metro area was $34,060 in May 2025, about $2,838 a month or $16.37 an hour. Statewide, the Wisconsin median for this job is $34,070, so the metro pays about the same as the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Appleton, WI?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Appleton, WI was $16.37 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.53 an hour and one in ten earned more than $21.66.

How many food preparation workers work in Appleton, WI?

BLS estimated 650 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 5.2 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.91 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Appleton, WI?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Appleton, WI run from $23,990 at the 10th percentile to $28,280 at the 25th, $38,200 at the 75th, and $45,050 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Appleton, WI?

On a median gross salary of $34,060, an estimated $28,756 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,106 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Wisconsin in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,304 (an effective rate of 15.6%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Appleton, WI?

On the median annual salary of $34,060, gross monthly income is $2,838. After federal, FICA, and Wisconsin state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,396 per month (or $1,106 every two weeks).

Is $34,060 a good salary in Appleton, WI?

At $34,060, the median salary for food preparation workers is 39.7% of the Appleton, WI median household income ($85,825). It is 32% below the $49,910 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 92.4, so prices here run 7.6% below the U.S. average.