What does a Chefs and Head Cooks salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Chefs and Head Cooks earning $59,160 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $64,095 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $35,330 | $38,277 | +$2,947 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $43,400 | $47,020 | +$3,620 |
| Median (P50) | $59,160 | $64,095 | +$4,935 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $71,110 | $77,042 | +$5,932 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $87,420 | $94,712 | +$7,292 |
A Chefs and Head Cooks in Wisconsin earns $59,160 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $64,095 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Chefs and Head Cooks salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wisconsin ranks #9 out of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Chefs and Head Cooks take-home pay in Wisconsin after taxes →
A Chefs and Head Cooks in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $59,160 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $64,095 — a +8.3% difference.
Wisconsin's cost of living is 7.7% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Wisconsin is 92.3 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Chefs and Head Cooks in Wisconsin: $59,160 x (100 / 92.3) = $64,095. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Chefs and Head Cooks in Wisconsin enjoys 8.3% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.