Bartender Salary in Madison, WI
Bartenders in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $23,210 a year — 32% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,424 take-home, or $1,702 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$711
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$337
- Wisconsin income tax$299
- Take-home pay$20,424
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.50% state
Bartender pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,200 | $8.75 | $16,474 | $1,373 |
| 25th percentile | $20,720 | $9.96 | $18,461 | $1,538 |
| Median (50th) | $23,210 | $11.16 | $20,424 | $1,702 |
| 75th percentile | $29,870 | $14.36 | $25,647 | $2,137 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,170 | $18.83 | $32,711 | $2,726 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,210 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $20,424 take-home pay has the buying power of $20,994 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI has 1.9× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #206 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 206 | Madison, WI | $23,210 | $20,424 | $20,994 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Sheboygan, WI — $25,720
- Milwaukee, WI — $25,970
- Appleton, WI — $23,330
- La Crosse, WI — $23,130
- Green Bay, WI — $23,380
- Oshkosh, WI — $23,120
- Eau Claire, WI — $22,990
- Wausau, WI — $22,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Madison, WI?
The median bartender salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $23,210 a year, or about $11.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,720 and $29,870.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $23,210 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $20,424 a year ($1,702 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $299 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 32% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $20,994 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #206 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 81% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,060
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $42,960
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,440
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,940
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $36,110
- Dishwasher — $32,750
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,820
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,640
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,000
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $28,710