SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 10 metro areas compared
At $34,670, median pay for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Wisconsin tracks the national median of $35,360 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $34,670, median pay for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Wisconsin tracks the national median of $35,360 closely. Pay ranges from under $28,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,080 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $31,210 to $37,390.
The area has 6,680 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.20 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Wisconsin ranks number 24th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Madison records the highest median at $36,110. Of the 728 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 695th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,640 | −19.0% |
| 25th | $31,210 | −11.7% |
| Median (50th) | $34,670 | −2.0% |
| 75th | $37,390 | +5.7% |
| 90th | $44,080 | +24.7% |
| Mean | $35,080 | −0.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Wisconsin
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $34,670 goes as far as $36,844 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,844US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,670 a year, 2.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,640 to $44,080 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,680 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 24th of 51 states for 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 Wisconsin?
The median annual wage is $34,670, or $16.67 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 Wisconsin is 2.0% 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 Wisconsin earns more than $44,080 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,640 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 6,680 jobs in this occupation in Wisconsin. 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.
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