Bartender pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI at a glance
Median salary
$25,970$12.49 per hour · $2,164 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Bartender salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI after taxes
Bartenders pay range in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, hourly and yearly
BLS May 2025 estimates for the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (WI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $8.14/hr | $1,411 | $16,930 | $15,472 |
| 25th percentile | $10.22/hr | $1,771 | $21,250 | $18,874 |
| MedianMedian | $12.49/hr | $2,164 | $25,970 | $22,576 |
| 75th percentile | $14.46/hr | $2,506 | $30,070 | $25,747 |
| 90th percentile | $19.35/hr | $3,354 | $40,250 | $33,425 |
Is $25,970 a good salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for bartenders next to both.
Bartenders pay in Wisconsin and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Do bartenders pay tax on tips?
Yes, but less than before. This job is on the Treasury's list of tipped occupations, so from 2025 through 2028 up to $25,000 a year of reported tips comes off federal taxable income, shrinking above $150,000 of income ($300,000 joint). Social Security and Medicare are still owed on every tip, and most states still tax them. The BLS pay figures on this page already include tips as employers report them.
Bartender pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: common questions
What is the median salary for bartenders in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The BLS median annual wage for bartenders in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area was $25,970 in May 2025, about $2,164 a month or $12.49 an hour. Statewide, the Wisconsin median for this job is $23,460, so the metro pays 11% above the state.
What is the hourly pay for bartenders in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median hourly wage for bartenders in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI was $12.49 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $8.14 an hour and one in ten earned more than $19.35.
How many bartenders work in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
BLS estimated 7,330 jobs for bartenders in the metro in May 2025, or 8.9 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.84 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for bartenders in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
BLS wage estimates for bartenders in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI run from $16,930 at the 10th percentile to $21,250 at the 25th, $30,070 at the 75th, and $40,250 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do bartenders take home after taxes in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
On a median gross salary of $25,970, an estimated $22,576 lands in net take-home pay per year ($868 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Wisconsin in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,394 (an effective rate of 13.1%).
How much do bartenders make per month in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
On the median annual salary of $25,970, gross monthly income is $2,164. After federal, FICA, and Wisconsin state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,881 per month (or $868 every two weeks).
Is $25,970 a good salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
At $25,970, the median salary for bartenders is 33.2% of the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI median household income ($78,218). It is 49% below the $51,160 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 96.9, so prices here run 3.1% below the U.S. average.