Waiter and Waitress Salary in Madison, WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $30,910 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,437 take-home, or $2,203 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,529
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,916
- Medicare (1.45%)$448
- Wisconsin income tax$579
- Take-home pay$26,437
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,120 | $8.71 | $16,411 | $1,368 |
| 25th percentile | $21,980 | $10.57 | $19,454 | $1,621 |
| Median (50th) | $30,910 | $14.86 | $26,437 | $2,203 |
| 75th percentile | $48,120 | $23.13 | $39,508 | $3,292 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,900 | $37.45 | $60,884 | $5,074 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,910 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 waiter and waitress's $26,437 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,174 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 Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #96 of 148 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 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,250 | $47,542 | $42,846 |
| 4 | Spokane, WA | $48,560 | $41,198 | $41,056 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $47,640 | $38,483 | $40,195 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $54,780 | $42,232 | $40,060 |
| 7 | Albany, NY | $48,980 | $39,488 | $39,660 |
| 8 | Buffalo, NY | $46,580 | $37,689 | $39,323 |
| 96 | Madison, WI | $30,910 | $26,437 | $27,174 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 148 metros →
About the job: waiters and waitresses
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $30,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Madison, WI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $30,910 a year, or about $14.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,980 and $48,120.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $30,910 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $26,437 a year ($2,203 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $579 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,174 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #96 of 148 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 63% of a median waiter and waitress’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, Restaurant — $38,440
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,820
- Bartender — $23,210