Bartender salary in Madison, WI
Bartenders in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $23,210 a year ($11.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,170 for the top 10%. That is 32% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is 1% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $23,460. There are 9.3 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,200 | $8.75 |
| 25th percentile | $20,720 | $9.96 |
| Median | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| 75th percentile | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| Average (mean) | $27,510 | $13.23 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,934.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $967.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $892.69 |
| Weekly | $446.35 |
| Hourly | $11.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $27,600 | 15,370 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $25,970 | 7,330 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $25,720 | 500 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $23,540 | 1,630 |
| Green Bay, WI | $23,380 | 1,620 |
| Appleton, WI | $23,330 | 1,230 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $23,330 | 380 |
| Kenosha, WI | $23,140 | 650 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $23,130 | 1,200 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $23,120 | 960 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $22,990 | 920 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $22,960 | 700 |
| Wausau, WI | $22,640 | 610 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $22,090 | 800 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,060 | $22.15 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Dishwasher | $32,750 | $15.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,650 | $13.78 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,850 | $12.43 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Madison, WI?
The median salary for bartenders in the Madison, WI metro area is $23,210 a year, or $11.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $39,170 a year. The top 25% earn $29,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,200 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $20,720 or less.
How many bartenders work in Madison, WI?
About 3,810 bartenders are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.