Bartenders pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $40,250 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Milwaukee earn between $21,250 and $30,070.
- $17K10th
- $21K25th
- $26KMedian
- $30K75th
- $40K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,850 | $2,321 | $13.39 |
| Median | $25,970 | $2,164 | $12.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,250 | $1,771 | $10.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,070 | $2,506 | $14.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Bartenders in Milwaukee earn 3% more than the Wisconsin average ($26,970) and 32% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $27,850 | $25,970 | $16,930 | $40,250 | 7,330 |
| Wisconsin | $26,970 | $23,460 | $17,200 | $39,040 | 29,520 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Milwaukee
On the average salary of $27,850, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $24,050 a year, or $2,004 a month and $925 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $27,850 buys what about $28,730 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 14.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 2nd of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Sheboygan pays the most ($28,250).
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Milwaukee: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Milwaukee?
$13.39 an hour on average, and $12.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $24,050 a year ($2,004 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,850.
Do bartenders earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-3011; area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.84, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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