SOC 35-3011 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · May 2025
How much do Bartenders make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Bartenders in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $25,970. The 10th percentile is $16,930 and the 90th percentile is $40,250. Employment is 7,330.
Median annual wage
$25,970
- 10th percentile
- $16,930
- 25th percentile
- $21,250
- Median
- $25,970
- 75th percentile
- $30,070
- 90th percentile
- $40,250
- Mean
- $27,850
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Bartenders, the published 10th percentile is $16,930 and the 90th percentile is $40,250. The difference is $23,320, which is 89.8% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $21,250 to the 75th at $30,070, covers $8,820.
The mean annual wage is $27,850, which sits above the median of $25,970. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI median is 24.4% lower than the national median of $34,340 for Bartenders. In 2024 national prices the local median is $26,791, which is 22% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 10.7% higher than the Wisconsin median of $23,460.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is 96.937, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $25,970 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Bartenders at $26,791 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
35 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Bartenders. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ranks 18th of 36 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI is 10 miles away, with a median of $22,960 and employment of 700. That median is 11.6% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $23,926, against $26,791 here.
- Kenosha, WI is 22 miles away, with a median of $23,140 and employment of 650. That median is 10.9% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $22,884, against $26,791 here.
- Sheboygan, WI is 57 miles away, with a median of $25,720 and employment of 500. That median is 1% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $27,358, against $26,791 here.
Employment share
Bartenders accounts for 0.89% of wage-and-salary employment in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (7,330 of 820,780). Nationally the occupation is 0.49% of employment (756,390 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.84 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI · Bartenders by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Bartenders make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Bartenders in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $25,970. The 10th percentile is $16,930 and the 90th percentile is $40,250. Employment is 7,330.
How does that compare with the national median for Bartenders?
The local median is 24.4% lower than the national median of $34,340.
What is Bartenders pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is 96.937, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $25,970 is $26,791. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI compare with nearby metros for Bartenders?
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 10 miles away, at $22,960. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ranks 18th of 36 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.