Waiters and Waitresses salary in Fond du Lac, WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Fond du Lac, WI metro area earn a median of $28,980 a year ($13.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 430 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,780 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 2% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $29,670. There are 9.7 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $33,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Fond du Lac, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,160 | $7.77 |
| 25th percentile | $18,660 | $8.97 |
| Median | $28,980 | $13.93 |
| 75th percentile | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Average (mean) | $33,040 | $15.88 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $2,415 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,207.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,114.62 |
| Weekly | $557.31 |
| Hourly | $13.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $30,910 | 5,130 |
| Appleton, WI | $30,370 | 1,490 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $30,330 | 10,020 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $30,020 | 850 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $29,980 | 640 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $29,840 | 950 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $29,720 | 1,160 |
| Green Bay, WI | $29,610 | 2,170 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29,480 | 960 |
| Wausau, WI | $29,060 | 720 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $28,990 | 820 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $28,380 | 1,270 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $25,920 | 25,620 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $23,150 | 2,100 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fond du Lac, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Bartender | $23,330 | $11.21 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,640 | $16.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,720 | $17.18 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,720 | $15.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,200 | $17.88 |
| Dishwasher | $22,080 | $10.61 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,750 | $13.82 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,250 | $12.62 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,350 | $13.15 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Fond du Lac, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in Fond du Lac, WI?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Fond du Lac, WI metro area is $28,980 a year, or $13.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Fond du Lac, WI?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Fond du Lac, WI metro area earn at least $59,780 a year. The top 25% earn $38,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Fond du Lac, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,160 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $18,660 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Fond du Lac, WI?
About 430 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Fond du Lac, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.