Bartenders pay range in Appleton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,000 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Appleton earn between $21,370 and $29,500.
- $17K10th
- $21K25th
- $23KMedian
- $30K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,450 | $2,288 | $13.20 |
| Median | $23,330 | $1,944 | $11.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,370 | $1,781 | $10.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,500 | $2,458 | $14.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Appleton vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Bartenders in Appleton earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($26,970) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $27,450 | $23,330 | $17,270 | $42,000 | 1,230 |
| Wisconsin | $26,970 | $23,460 | $17,200 | $39,040 | 29,520 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Appleton
On the average salary of $27,450, a single filer in Appleton takes home about $23,737 a year, or $1,978 a month and $913 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Appleton a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Appleton area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.4), so the average $27,450 buys what about $29,702 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Appleton ($49,910). A typical home costs $350,370, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Wisconsin cities
Appleton ranks 4th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Sheboygan pays the most ($28,250).
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Appleton: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Appleton?
$13.20 an hour on average, and $11.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Appleton?
About $23,737 a year ($1,978 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,450.
Do bartenders earn more in Appleton than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Appleton, WI (11540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.04, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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