Waiter and Waitress salary in Wisconsin
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in Wisconsin earns a median of $29,670 a year ($14.26/hour equivalent), 15.8% below the national median of $35,230. Wisconsin ranks #32 of 51 states. About 36,220 people do this job in Wisconsin.
Take-home pay in Wisconsin
At the Wisconsin median, a single filer keeps about $25,445 a year after federal, FICA and Wisconsin taxes — $979 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Wisconsin paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,141.15
- Federal income tax
- −$53.09
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$70.75
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$16.55
- Wisconsin income tax
- −$22.11
- Take-home pay
- $978.65
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $29,670
- Federal
- $1,380
- FICA
- $2,270
- State + local
- $575
- Net
- $25,445
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 4.4%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Wisconsin compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #32 | Wisconsin | $29,670 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Wisconsin?
The median salary is $29,670 a year and the average is $34,570 (BLS May 2025).
Is Wisconsin a good state for waiters and waitresses?
Wisconsin ranks #32 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 16% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $29,670 after taxes in Wisconsin?
About $25,445 a year ($979 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.