How much does a food server make in Appleton?
$34,280a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Appleton, WI metro area. That is $16.48 an hour or $2,857 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.48
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 142 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 260
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,300Median: $34,280Highest 10%: $39,070
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,300 | $13.61 | |
| 25th | $29,740 | $14.30 | |
| Median | $34,280 | $16.48 | |
| 75th | $35,950 | $17.28 | |
| 90th | $39,070 | $18.78 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Minneapolis, MN | $36,420 |
| Madison, WI | $36,110 |
| Duluth, MN | $35,880 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $35,850 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $34,900 |
| La Crosse, WI | $34,850 |
| Green Bay, WI | $34,730 |
| Racine, WI | $34,530 |
| Kenosha, WI | $34,300 |
| Janesville, WI | $34,000 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $33,860 |
| Wausau, WI | $33,750 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $33,640 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $33,570 |
Related jobs in Appleton
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $62,200 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,500 |
| Cook | $38,110 |
| Cook | $36,520 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,060 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,370 |
| Dishwasher | $29,370 |
| Cook | $29,050 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,010 |
| Host and Hostess | $27,870 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Appleton?
The median hourly pay in the Appleton, WI metro area is $16.48 ($34,280 a year).
Do food servers make more in Appleton than the national average?
No: $34,280 against $35,360 nationally, 3% less.
How does Appleton compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $34,670, so Appleton pays 1% less.
Where does Appleton rank for food server pay?
142 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Appleton?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,300 or less a year; the top 10% make $39,070 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.