Waiter and Waitress Salary in Kenosha, WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Kenosha, WI metro area earn a median $29,480 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,348 take-home, or $2,112 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Kenosha, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,358
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,828
- Medicare (1.45%)$427
- Wisconsin income tax$519
- Take-home pay$25,348
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Kenosha, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,160 | $8.25 | $15,654 | $1,304 |
| 25th percentile | $20,590 | $9.90 | $18,358 | $1,530 |
| Median (50th) | $29,480 | $14.17 | $25,348 | $2,112 |
| 75th percentile | $45,570 | $21.91 | $37,571 | $3,131 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,830 | $29.73 | $49,921 | $4,160 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,480 buys in Kenosha, WI
Prices in Kenosha, WI are 1.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,348 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,068 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in Kenosha, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Kenosha, WI ranks #274 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 274 | Kenosha, WI | $29,480 | $25,348 | $25,068 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Appleton, WI — $30,370
- Oshkosh, WI — $29,840
- Eau Claire, WI — $29,720
- Sheboygan, WI — $29,980
- Green Bay, WI — $29,610
- Madison, WI — $30,910
- Wausau, WI — $29,060
- Racine, WI — $30,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Kenosha, WI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Kenosha, WI metro area is $29,480 a year, or about $14.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,590 and $45,570.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Kenosha, WI?
On the median $29,480 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $25,348 a year ($2,112 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $519 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Kenosha, WI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 1.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,068 would in a typical U.S. city. Kenosha, WI ranks #274 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Kenosha, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kenosha, WI is $1,092 a month ($1,402 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kenosha, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,760
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,730
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,840
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,070
- Bartender — $23,140