How much does a food server make in Madison?
$36,110a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $17.36 an hour or $3,009 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.36
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 71 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,200Median: $36,110Highest 10%: $45,960
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,200 | $14.04 | |
| 25th | $33,460 | $16.09 | |
| Median | $36,110 | $17.36 | |
| 75th | $39,730 | $19.10 | |
| 90th | $45,960 | $22.10 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Minneapolis, MN | $36,420 |
| 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 |
| Appleton, WI | $34,280 |
| 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 Madison
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $64,300 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $46,060 |
| Cook | $42,960 |
| Cook | $38,440 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,940 |
| Dishwasher | $32,750 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,910 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,820 |
| Cook | $29,640 |
| Host and Hostess | $29,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Madison?
The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $17.36 ($36,110 a year).
Do food servers make more in Madison than the national average?
Yes: $36,110 against $35,360 nationally, 2% more.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $34,670, so Madison pays 4% more.
Where does Madison rank for food server pay?
71 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,960 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.