How much does a food server make in Milwaukee?
$34,900a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area. That is $16.78 an hour or $2,908 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.78
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 107 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 2,080
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $28,930Median: $34,900Highest 10%: $45,060
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,930 | $13.91 | |
| 25th | $31,490 | $15.14 | |
| Median | $34,900 | $16.78 | |
| 75th | $39,410 | $18.95 | |
| 90th | $45,060 | $21.66 |
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 |
| 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 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 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,330 |
| Dishwasher | $29,170 |
| Cook | $28,910 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,440 |
| Cook | $28,130 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Milwaukee?
The median hourly pay in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $16.78 ($34,900 a year).
Do food servers make more in Milwaukee than the national average?
No: $34,900 against $35,360 nationally, 1% less.
How does Milwaukee compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $34,670, so Milwaukee pays 1% more.
Where does Milwaukee rank for food server pay?
107 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% make $28,930 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,060 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.