Food Preparation Workers salary
in Madison, WI
- Middle 50%
- $30,460–$43,950
- vs U.S. median
- +5%
- Metro rank
- #69 of 496
Food Preparation Workers in the Madison, WI metro earn a median of $36,940 a year, based on BLS estimates for 2,330 jobs (May 2025). That is 5% above the U.S. median of $35,320 and 8% above the WI statewide median of $34,070. It ranks #69 of 496 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE2,330 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Food Preparation Workers pay in other WI metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,470 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $34,900 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,840 |
| Appleton, WI | $34,060 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,680 |
| Green Bay, WI | $32,720 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $32,340 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $32,150 |
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RELATED JOBS IN MADISON
Questions
What is the average Food Preparation Workers salary in Madison?
The BLS median is $36,940 a year (May 2025). Half of the 2,330 jobs pay between $30,460 and $43,950. The 10th percentile is $26,980 and the 90th is $47,060.
Is Madison a high-paying metro for Food Preparation Workers?
That is 5% above the U.S. median of $35,320 and 8% above the WI statewide median of $34,070. It ranks #69 of 496 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Food Preparation Workers make an hour in Madison?
About $17.76 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $36,940 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $14.64–$21.13 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.