SOC 35-9031 · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop Salary in Milwaukee, WI

The average salary for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is $27,320 a year ($13.13 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $28,010: half of the 1,960 people in this job in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,690).

$27,320average per year

$13.13 / hourMedian $28,010Take-home ≈ $23,635

  • $17K10th
  • $22K25th
  • $28KMedian
  • $30K75th
  • $35K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

1,960people in this job
-16%vs U.S. average
#10 of 13Wisconsin metros
97cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay range in Milwaukee

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,360 or more. The middle half of hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Milwaukee earn between $21,700 and $30,080.

  • $17K10th
  • $22K25th
  • $28KMedian
  • $30K75th
  • $35K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$27,320$2,277$13.13
Median$28,010$2,334$13.47
Entry level (25th percentile)$21,700$1,808$10.43
Experienced (75th percentile)$30,080$2,507$14.46

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.

Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop in Milwaukee earn 4% less than the Wisconsin average ($28,440) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($32,690). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $31,200.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Milwaukee$27,320$28,010$16,980$35,3601,960
Wisconsin$28,440$28,060$17,830$37,4406,430
United States$32,690$31,200$22,340$43,990432,690

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary after taxes in Milwaukee

On the average salary of $27,320, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $23,635 a year, or $1,970 a month and $909 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).

Wisconsin paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Milwaukee a good place for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $27,320 buys what about $28,183 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 14.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $27,320 is worth in another city

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in other Wisconsin cities

Milwaukee ranks 10th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($30,420).

All Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salaries in Wisconsin

Highest-paying cities for hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,650).

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary by city

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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop salary in Milwaukee: questions

How much do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop make an hour in Milwaukee?

$13.13 an hour on average, and $13.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop salary in Milwaukee?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,700, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop take-home pay in Milwaukee?

About $23,635 a year ($1,970 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,320.

Do hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?

The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,690).

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 35-9031; area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
  • 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 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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