SOC 35-3041 · Wausau, WI metro

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Wausau, WI

The average salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Wausau, Wisconsin is $33,710 a year ($16.21 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $33,750: half of the 160 people in this job in the Wausau, WI metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

$33,710average per year

$16.21 / hourMedian $33,750Take-home ≈ $28,492

  • $29K10th
  • $31K25th
  • $34KMedian
  • $36K75th
  • $38K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

160people in this job
-7%vs U.S. average
#11 of 13Wisconsin metros
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Wausau

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $38,000 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Wausau earn between $30,800 and $35,740.

  • $29K10th
  • $31K25th
  • $34KMedian
  • $36K75th
  • $38K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$33,710$2,809$16.21
Median$33,750$2,812$16.23
Entry level (25th percentile)$30,800$2,567$14.81
Experienced (75th percentile)$35,740$2,978$17.18

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Wausau vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.

Food servers, nonrestaurant in Wausau earn 4% less than the Wisconsin average ($35,080) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $35,360.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Wausau$33,710$33,750$28,960$38,000160
Wisconsin$35,080$34,670$28,640$44,0806,680
United States$36,140$35,360$28,030$46,120293,900

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Wausau

On the average salary of $33,710, a single filer in Wausau takes home about $28,492 a year, or $2,374 a month and $1,096 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).

Wisconsin paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Wausau a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? 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 $33,710 buys what about $36,384 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Wausau ($48,790). A typical home costs $274,194, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $33,710 is worth in another city

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Wisconsin cities

Wausau ranks 11th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($37,220).

All Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries in Wisconsin

Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant

Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Wausau, WI.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Wausau: questions

How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Wausau?

$16.21 an hour on average, and $16.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Wausau?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,800, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Wausau?

About $28,492 a year ($2,374 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,710.

Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Wausau than elsewhere?

The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).

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 35-3041; area Wausau, WI (48140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
  • 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 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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