Food Preparation Worker salary in Wisconsin
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Wisconsin earns a median of $34,070 a year ($16.38/hour equivalent), 3.5% below the national median of $35,320. Wisconsin ranks #28 of 51 states. About 17,990 people do this job in Wisconsin.
Take-home pay in Wisconsin
At the Wisconsin median, a single filer keeps about $28,764 a year after federal, FICA and Wisconsin taxes — $1,106 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Wisconsin paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,310.38
- Federal income tax
- −$73.40
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$81.24
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.00
- Wisconsin income tax
- −$30.45
- Take-home pay
- $1,106.29
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,070
- Federal
- $1,908
- FICA
- $2,606
- State + local
- $792
- Net
- $28,764
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.4%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Wisconsin compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #28 | Wisconsin | $34,070 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Wisconsin?
The median salary is $34,070 a year and the average is $34,000 (BLS May 2025).
Is Wisconsin a good state for food preparation workers?
Wisconsin ranks #28 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 4% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $34,070 after taxes in Wisconsin?
About $28,764 a year ($1,106 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.