Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Madison, WI
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $36,110 a year ($17.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,960 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 4% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $34,670. There are 2.0 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| 25th percentile | $33,460 | $16.09 |
| Median | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| 75th percentile | $39,730 | $19.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Average (mean) | $37,220 | $17.89 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,009.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,504.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,388.85 |
| Weekly | $694.42 |
| Hourly | $17.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,110 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,420 | 6,740 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $35,880 | 670 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $35,850 | 190 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $34,900 | 2,080 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $34,850 | 290 |
| Green Bay, WI | $34,730 | 390 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $34,530 | 140 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,300 | 120 |
| Appleton, WI | $34,280 | 260 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $34,000 | 200 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $33,860 | 250 |
| Wausau, WI | $33,750 | 160 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $33,640 | 100 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,570 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| Bartender | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,060 | $22.15 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 | $17.76 |
| Dishwasher | $32,750 | $15.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,650 | $13.78 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $25,850 | $12.43 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Madison, WI?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Madison, WI metro area is $36,110 a year, or $17.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $45,960 a year. The top 25% earn $39,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,200 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $33,460 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Madison, WI?
About 820 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.