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Madison, WI metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

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

In the Madison, WI metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $36,940 a year ($17.76 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 2,330 of these jobs there. That is 36% below the $58,080 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $26,980 and $47,060; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Wisconsin tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $30,928 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Madison, WI at a glance

Median salary

$36,940$17.76 per hour · $3,078 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$26,980$12.97/hr
25th percentile$30,460$14.64/hr
75th percentile$43,950$21.13/hr
90th percentile$47,060$22.63/hr
Jobs in this metro2,330Location quotient 0.99 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here36% belowAll-jobs median $58,080
Against Wisconsin8% aboveStatewide median $34,070
Against the U.S.5% aboveNational 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 $37,000 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$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $37,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $37,000 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 Madison, WI after taxes

$36,940
$15,000$75,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$36,940
Net 84%
Fed 6%
WI 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$30,928After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,577Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,190Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.3%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,253 / yr
Wisconsin state income tax$933 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,826 / yr
Customize deductions in full Wisconsin calculator

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

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

What food preparation workers earned in the Madison, WI metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (WI)
10th percentile$12.97/hr$2,248$26,980$23,368
25th percentile$14.64/hr$2,538$30,460$26,041
MedianMedian$17.76/hr$3,078$36,940$30,928
75th percentile$21.13/hr$3,663$43,950$36,215
90th percentile$22.63/hr$3,922$47,060$38,561

Is $36,940 a good salary in Madison, 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$88,804Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)97.32.7% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household41.6%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 Madison, WI. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Food preparation worker pay in Madison, WI: common questions

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

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Madison, WI metro area was $36,940 in May 2025, about $3,078 a month or $17.76 an hour. Statewide, the Wisconsin median for this job is $34,070, so the metro pays 8% above the state.

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

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Madison, WI was $17.76 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.97 an hour and one in ten earned more than $22.63.

How many food preparation workers work in Madison, WI?

BLS estimated 2,330 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 5.7 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.99 means the job is about as common here as in the country as a whole.

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

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Madison, WI run from $26,980 at the 10th percentile to $30,460 at the 25th, $43,950 at the 75th, and $47,060 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

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

On a median gross salary of $36,940, an estimated $30,928 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,190 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Wisconsin in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,012 (an effective rate of 16.3%).

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

On the median annual salary of $36,940, gross monthly income is $3,078. After federal, FICA, and Wisconsin state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,577 per month (or $1,190 every two weeks).

Is $36,940 a good salary in Madison, WI?

At $36,940, the median salary for food preparation workers is 41.6% of the Madison, WI median household income ($88,804). It is 36% below the $58,080 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 97.3, so prices here run 2.7% below the U.S. average.