Bartender salary in Wisconsin
Bartenders in Wisconsin earn a median of $23,460 a year ($11.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 29,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,040 for the top 10%. That is 32% lower than the national median of $34,340. Wisconsin ranks 44th of 51 states for bartenders pay. There are 10 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $26,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,200 | $8.27 |
| 25th percentile | $20,910 | $10.06 |
| Median | $23,460 | $11.28 |
| 75th percentile | $29,860 | $14.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| Average (mean) | $26,970 | $12.97 |
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 | $1,955 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $977.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $902.31 |
| Weekly | $451.15 |
| Hourly | $11.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in cities in Wisconsin
| 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 |
| Madison, WI | $23,210 | 3,810 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,670 | $14.26 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Dishwasher | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,300 | $29.47 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,240 | $15.02 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for bartenders in Wisconsin is $23,460 a year, or $11.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of bartenders in Wisconsin earn at least $39,040 a year. The top 25% earn $29,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,200 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $20,910 or less.
How many bartenders work in Wisconsin?
About 29,520 bartenders are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.