Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Milwaukee, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Median annual salary $35,060 +1.7% vs national
Median hourly $16.86
10th percentile $26,930
90th percentile $44,180
Employed locally 1,580
National median $34,460

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
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Milwaukee, WI
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,930
    25th
    $30,360
    50th (median)
    $35,060
    75th
    $37,710
    90th
    $44,180

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 46% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 54% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $36,600
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $36,190
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $36,050
    Madison, WI $35,630
    Sheboygan, WI $35,470
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $35,320

    Related occupations in Milwaukee, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,210
    Waiters and Waitresses$29,910
    Bartenders$24,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,560
    Cooks, Restaurant$37,540
    Food Preparation Workers$33,280

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in Milwaukee?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Milwaukee, WI is $16.86, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.66 or more per hour.

    Is Milwaukee above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Milwaukee, WI is 1.7% above the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $26,930 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,360.