How much does a bartender make in Milwaukee?
$25,970a year
Median yearly pay for bartenders in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area. That is $12.49 an hour or $2,164 a month.
- Hourly
- $12.49
- Vs. national median
- -24%
- Rank among cities
- 271 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 7,330
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $16,930Median: $25,970Highest 10%: $40,250
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16,930 | $8.14 | |
| 25th | $21,250 | $10.22 | |
| Median | $25,970 | $12.49 | |
| 75th | $30,070 | $14.46 | |
| 90th | $40,250 | $19.35 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for bartenders.
| Minneapolis, MN | $27,600 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $25,720 |
| Duluth, MN | $23,540 |
| Green Bay, WI | $23,380 |
| Appleton, WI | $23,330 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $23,330 |
| Madison, WI | $23,210 |
| Kenosha, WI | $23,140 |
| La Crosse, WI | $23,130 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $23,120 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $22,990 |
| Racine, WI | $22,960 |
| Wausau, WI | $22,640 |
| Janesville, WI | $22,090 |
Related jobs in Milwaukee
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $61,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $40,080 |
| Cook | $38,980 |
| Cook | $37,180 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,470 |
| Food Server | $34,900 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,330 |
| Dishwasher | $29,170 |
| Cook | $28,910 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,440 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make an hour in Milwaukee?
The median hourly pay in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $12.49 ($25,970 a year).
Do bartenders make more in Milwaukee than the national average?
No: $25,970 against $34,340 nationally, 24% less.
How does Milwaukee compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $23,460, so Milwaukee pays 11% more.
Where does Milwaukee rank for bartender pay?
271 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a bartender make starting out in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% make $16,930 or less a year; the top 10% make $40,250 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.