Waiters and Waitresses pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,890 or more. The middle half of waiters and waitresses in Milwaukee earn between $22,030 and $44,720.
- $18K10th
- $22K25th
- $30KMedian
- $45K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,250 | $2,938 | $16.95 |
| Median | $30,330 | $2,528 | $14.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,030 | $1,836 | $10.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,720 | $3,727 | $21.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Waiters and waitresses in Milwaukee earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($34,570) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($40,060). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $35,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $35,250 | $30,330 | $17,920 | $61,890 | 10,020 |
| Wisconsin | $34,570 | $29,670 | $16,830 | $61,770 | 36,220 |
| United States | $40,060 | $35,230 | $18,100 | $64,720 | 2,270,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Waiters and Waitresses salary after taxes in Milwaukee
On the average salary of $35,250, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $29,654 a year, or $2,471 a month and $1,141 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for waiters and waitresses? 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 $35,250 buys what about $36,364 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 6th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($38,450).
- Madison$38,450
- Appleton$36,600
- Sheboygan$36,160
- Oshkosh$35,970
- Eau Claire$35,700
- Milwaukee$35,250
- Racine$35,200
- Kenosha$34,980
- Wausau$34,420
- Janesville$34,280
Highest-paying cities for waiters and waitresses
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($87,210).
- Kahului, HI$87,210
- Seattle, WA$62,940
- Honolulu, HI$61,880
- Bremerton, WA$61,770
- Burlington, VT$61,070
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Waiters and Waitresses salary in Milwaukee: questions
How much do waiters and waitresses make an hour in Milwaukee?
$16.95 an hour on average, and $14.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level waiters and waitresses salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the waiters and waitresses take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $29,654 a year ($2,471 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,250.
Do waiters and waitresses earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,060).
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 35-3031; area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 0.84, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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