Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Wisconsin
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Wisconsin earn a median of $34,670 a year ($16.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,080 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $35,360. Wisconsin ranks 24th of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 2.3 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,640 | $13.77 |
| 25th percentile | $31,210 | $15.00 |
| Median | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| 75th percentile | $37,390 | $17.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| Average (mean) | $35,080 | $16.86 |
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 | $2,889.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,444.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,333.46 |
| Weekly | $666.73 |
| Hourly | $16.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,670 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 cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,420 | 6,740 |
| Madison, WI | $36,110 | 820 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,670 | $14.26 |
| Bartender | $23,460 | $11.28 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,670 | $19.07 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,070 | $16.38 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| Dishwasher | $29,070 | $13.98 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,080 | $13.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,920 | $13.90 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,130 | $13.52 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $61,300 | $29.47 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,240 | $15.02 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Wisconsin is $34,670 a year, or $16.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Wisconsin earn at least $44,080 a year. The top 25% earn $37,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,640 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $31,210 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Wisconsin?
About 6,680 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.