Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Eau Claire
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,260 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Eau Claire earn between $48,620 and $67,920.
- $37K10th
- $49K25th
- $59KMedian
- $68K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,020 | $5,085 | $29.34 |
| Median | $59,240 | $4,937 | $28.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,620 | $4,052 | $23.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,920 | $5,660 | $32.65 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Eau Claire vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Eau Claire earn 5% less than the Wisconsin average ($64,210) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | $61,020 | $59,240 | $37,170 | $77,260 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $64,210 | $61,300 | $41,990 | $87,570 | 1,860 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Eau Claire
On the average salary of $61,020, a single filer in Eau Claire takes home about $49,090 a year, or $4,091 a month and $1,888 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Eau Claire a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Eau Claire area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.8), so the average $61,020 buys what about $65,757 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Eau Claire ($48,100). A typical home costs $327,164, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Wisconsin cities
Eau Claire ranks 7th of 12 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($68,460).
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Eau Claire: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Eau Claire?
$29.34 an hour on average, and $28.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Eau Claire?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Eau Claire?
About $49,090 a year ($4,091 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,020.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Eau Claire than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Eau Claire, WI (20740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.