Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Appleton, WI
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $34,280 a year ($16.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,070 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 1% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $34,670. There are 2.1 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,090, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,300 | $13.61 |
| 25th percentile | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| Median | $34,280 | $16.48 |
| 75th percentile | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Average (mean) | $34,090 | $16.39 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,856.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,428.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,318.46 |
| Weekly | $659.23 |
| Hourly | $16.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,420 | 6,740 |
| Madison, WI | $36,110 | 820 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $35,880 | 670 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $35,850 | 190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $34,900 | 2,080 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $34,850 | 290 |
| Green Bay, WI | $34,730 | 390 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $34,530 | 140 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,300 | 120 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $34,000 | 200 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $33,860 | 250 |
| Wausau, WI | $33,750 | 160 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $33,640 | 100 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,570 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,010 | $13.95 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,370 | $14.60 |
| Bartender | $23,330 | $11.21 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,060 | $16.37 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,820 | $12.90 |
| Dishwasher | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,200 | $29.90 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $27,720 | $13.33 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Appleton, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Appleton, WI metro area is $34,280 a year, or $16.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $39,070 a year. The top 25% earn $35,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,300 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $29,740 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Appleton, WI?
About 260 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.