Waiter and Waitress Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $30,330 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,997 take-home, or $2,166 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,460
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,880
- Medicare (1.45%)$440
- Wisconsin income tax$553
- Take-home pay$25,997
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,920 | $8.62 | $16,253 | $1,354 |
| 25th percentile | $22,030 | $10.59 | $19,494 | $1,624 |
| Median (50th) | $30,330 | $14.58 | $25,997 | $2,166 |
| 75th percentile | $44,720 | $21.50 | $36,926 | $3,077 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,890 | $29.75 | $49,966 | $4,164 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,330 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,997 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,818 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #241 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 |
| 241 | Milwaukee, WI | $30,330 | $25,997 | $26,818 |
*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 Milwaukee, WI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $30,330 a year, or about $14.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,030 and $44,720.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $30,330 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $25,997 a year ($2,166 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $553 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,818 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #241 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 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 Milwaukee, WI
- Chef and Head Cook — $61,580
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,980
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,180
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,470
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $34,900
- Dishwasher — $29,170
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,440
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,010
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,310
- Bartender — $25,970