Waiter and Waitress Salary in Racine, WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI metro area earn a median $30,020 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,761 take-home, or $2,147 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Racine, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,422
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,861
- Medicare (1.45%)$435
- Wisconsin income tax$540
- Take-home pay$25,761
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Racine, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,190 | $8.26 | $15,677 | $1,306 |
| 25th percentile | $21,320 | $10.25 | $18,934 | $1,578 |
| Median (50th) | $30,020 | $14.43 | $25,761 | $2,147 |
| 75th percentile | $45,820 | $22.03 | $37,761 | $3,147 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,010 | $29.33 | $49,298 | $4,108 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,020 buys in Racine, WI
Prices in Racine, WI are 4.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 8% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median waiter and waitress's $25,761 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,846 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 less concentrated in Racine, WI than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Racine, WI ranks #239 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 |
| 239 | Racine, WI | $30,020 | $25,761 | $26,846 |
*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
- Milwaukee, WI — $30,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Racine, WI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI metro area is $30,020 a year, or about $14.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,320 and $45,820.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Racine, WI?
On the median $30,020 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $25,761 a year ($2,147 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $540 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Racine, WI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 4.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,846 would in a typical U.S. city. Racine, WI ranks #239 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress afford rent in Racine, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Racine, WI is $988 a month ($1,235 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median waiter and waitress’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Racine, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,130
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,800
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,460
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,670
- Bartender — $22,960