How much does a waiter and waitress make in Madison?
$30,910a year
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $14.86 an hour or $2,576 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.86
- Vs. national median
- -12%
- Rank among cities
- 205 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 5,130
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $18,120Median: $30,910Highest 10%: $77,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,120 | $8.71 | |
| 25th | $21,980 | $10.57 | |
| Median | $30,910 | $14.86 | |
| 75th | $48,120 | $23.13 | |
| 90th | $77,900 | $37.45 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for waiter and waitresss.
| Appleton, WI | $30,370 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $30,330 |
| Racine, WI | $30,020 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $29,980 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $29,840 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $29,720 |
| Green Bay, WI | $29,610 |
| Kenosha, WI | $29,480 |
| Wausau, WI | $29,060 |
| Janesville, WI | $28,990 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $28,980 |
| La Crosse, WI | $28,380 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $25,920 |
| Duluth, MN | $23,150 |
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 |
| Food Server | $36,110 |
| Dishwasher | $32,750 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $29,820 |
| Cook | $29,640 |
| Host and Hostess | $29,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make an hour in Madison?
The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $14.86 ($30,910 a year).
Do waiter and waitresss make more in Madison than the national average?
No: $30,910 against $35,230 nationally, 12% less.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $29,670, so Madison pays 4% more.
Where does Madison rank for waiter and waitress pay?
205 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does a waiter and waitress make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $18,120 or less a year; the top 10% make $77,900 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.