Bartenders pay range in Wausau
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,360 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Wausau earn between $19,290 and $28,560.
- $17K10th
- $19K25th
- $23KMedian
- $29K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $25,320 | $2,110 | $12.17 |
| Median | $22,640 | $1,887 | $10.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $19,290 | $1,608 | $9.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,560 | $2,380 | $13.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Wausau vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Bartenders in Wausau earn 6% less than the Wisconsin average ($26,970) and 38% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau | $25,320 | $22,640 | $16,850 | $36,360 | 610 |
| 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 Wausau
On the average salary of $25,320, a single filer in Wausau takes home about $22,066 a year, or $1,839 a month and $849 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wausau a good place for bartenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wausau area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $25,320 buys what about $27,328 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Wausau ($48,790). A typical home costs $274,194, or 10.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Wisconsin cities
Wausau ranks 12th 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 Wausau: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Wausau?
$12.17 an hour on average, and $10.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Wausau?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $19,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Wausau?
About $22,066 a year ($1,839 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $25,320.
Do bartenders earn more in Wausau than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% 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 Wausau, WI (48140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.81, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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