Waiters and Waitresses salary in Wisconsin
Waiters and Waitresses in Wisconsin earn a median of $29,670 a year ($14.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 36,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,770 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $35,230. Wisconsin ranks 32nd of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 12 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,830 | $8.09 |
| 25th percentile | $21,000 | $10.10 |
| Median | $29,670 | $14.26 |
| 75th percentile | $43,150 | $20.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,770 | $29.70 |
| Average (mean) | $34,570 | $16.62 |
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 | $2,472.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,236.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,141.15 |
| Weekly | $570.58 |
| Hourly | $14.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in cities in Wisconsin
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Bartender | $23,460 | $11.28 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Wisconsin is $29,670 a year, or $14.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Wisconsin earn at least $61,770 a year. The top 25% earn $43,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,830 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $21,000 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Wisconsin?
About 36,220 waiters and waitresses are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.