What does a Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary really buy you in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is 7.7% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Wisconsin's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 92.3, meaning prices are 7.7% lower the national average. A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria earning $37,840 in Wisconsin has the equivalent purchasing power of $40,996 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) | $31,000 | $33,586 | +$2,586 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $35,050 | $37,973 | +$2,923 |
| Median (P50) | $37,840 | $40,996 | +$3,156 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $43,760 | $47,410 | +$3,650 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $47,000 | $50,920 | +$3,920 |
A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wisconsin earns $37,840 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 8% further — like earning $40,996 in an average-cost state. This makes Wisconsin one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Wisconsin ranks #12 out of 50 states for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wisconsin earns a median salary of $37,840 per year. After adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (RPP=92.3), the real purchasing power is $40,996 — 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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Wisconsin: $37,840 x (100 / 92.3) = $40,996. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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.