SalaryExplorer

SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Food Servers, NonrestaurantWestern Wisconsin

Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared

$33,170 /year
$15.95per hour
270jobs in area
6.2%vs US median

At $33,170, median pay for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Western Wisconsin, WI tracks the national median of $35,360 closely.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $35,36010TH$28,02025TH$30,300MEDIAN$33,17075TH$35,36090TH$39,900

Salary overview

At $33,170, median pay for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Western Wisconsin, WI tracks the national median of $35,360 closely. Pay ranges from under $28,020 at the tenth percentile to more than $39,900 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $30,300 to $35,360.

The area has 270 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.12 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Madison records the highest median at $36,110. Of the 346 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 322nd.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$28,020−20.8%
25th$30,300−14.3%
Median (50th)$33,170−6.2%
75th$35,360+0.0%
90th$39,900+12.8%
Mean$33,630−4.9%

Other metro areas in Wisconsin

Median annual wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Madison$36,110820
2Sheboygan$35,850190
3Milwaukee$34,9002,080
4La Crosse$34,850290
5Green Bay$34,730390
6Racine$34,530140
7Kenosha$34,300120
8Appleton$34,280260
9Janesville$34,000200
10Oshkosh$33,860250

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Western Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $33,170 goes as far as $35,250 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.3% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$33,170as reported by BLS

Local price level

94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$35,250US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $33,170 a year, 6.2% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $28,020 to $39,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 270 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Madison, at $36,110.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Western Wisconsin, WI?

The median annual wage is $33,170, or $15.95 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.

Is that higher than the national average?

The national median for this occupation is $35,360, so pay in Western Wisconsin, WI is 6.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.

What do the top earners make?

The top tenth of this occupation in Western Wisconsin, WI earns more than $39,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $28,020 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.

Which area nearby pays the most?

The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Madison, at $36,110 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 270 jobs in this occupation in Western Wisconsin, WI. Self-employed workers are not included.

Source and methodology

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Western Wisconsin, WI (2025): $33,170 Median | Salary Explorer