Waiters and Waitresses salary in Madison, WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $30,910 a year ($14.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,900 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is 4% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $29,670. There are 13 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,120 | $8.71 |
| 25th percentile | $21,980 | $10.57 |
| Median | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| 75th percentile | $48,120 | $23.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,900 | $37.45 |
| Average (mean) | $38,450 | $18.49 |
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 | $2,575.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,287.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,188.85 |
| Weekly | $594.42 |
| Hourly | $14.86 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28,980 | 430 |
| 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 Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Bartender | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Madison, WI metro area is $30,910 a year, or $14.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $77,900 a year. The top 25% earn $48,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,120 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $21,980 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Madison, WI?
About 5,130 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.