Bartender Salary in Wausau, WI
Bartenders in the Wausau, WI metro area earn a median $22,640 a year — 34% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,975 take-home, or $1,665 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Wausau, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$654
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,404
- Medicare (1.45%)$328
- Wisconsin income tax$279
- Take-home pay$19,975
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.50% state
Bartender pay by experience in Wausau, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,850 | $8.10 | $15,409 | $1,284 |
| 25th percentile | $19,290 | $9.27 | $17,333 | $1,444 |
| Median (50th) | $22,640 | $10.88 | $19,975 | $1,665 |
| 75th percentile | $28,560 | $13.73 | $24,641 | $2,053 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,360 | $17.48 | $30,576 | $2,548 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,640 buys in Wausau, WI
Prices in Wausau, WI are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median bartender's $19,975 take-home pay has the buying power of $21,559 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Wausau, WI has 1.8× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Wausau, WI ranks #197 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 |
| 197 | Wausau, WI | $22,640 | $19,975 | $21,559 |
*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
- Racine, WI — $22,960
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Wausau, WI?
The median bartender salary in the Wausau, WI metro area is $22,640 a year, or about $10.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,290 and $28,560.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Wausau, WI?
On the median $22,640 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $19,975 a year ($1,665 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $279 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Wausau, WI a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 34% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $21,559 would in a typical U.S. city. Wausau, WI ranks #197 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender afford rent in Wausau, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wausau, WI is $889 a month ($1,147 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Wausau, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,000
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,180
- Food Preparation Worker — $31,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,060
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,830