Average and median wage in Wisconsin
Half of the 2,941,540 workers in Wisconsin earn less than $50,270 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $64,270, or $30.90 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $29,980 or less and the top 10% $104,990 or more. The average is 8% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median about the same as the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $30K10th
- $38K25th
- $50KMedian
- $76K75th
- $105K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Wisconsin per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,270 | $30.90 | $69,770 |
| Median | $50,270 | $24.17 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $29,980 | $14.41 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $37,700 | $18.12 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $76,350 | $36.71 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $104,990 | $50.48 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Wisconsin
- Madison$70,990
- Milwaukee$67,440
- Oshkosh$64,790
- Sheboygan$64,040
- Green Bay$62,790
- La Crosse$62,770
- Fond du Lac$62,420
- Appleton$62,240
- Janesville$61,110
- Eau Claire$60,760
- Kenosha$60,490
- Wausau$60,120
- Racine$60,060
Map of Wisconsin metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $70,990 | $58,080 | $56,066 | 97 | $452,769 |
| Milwaukee | $67,440 | $51,160 | $53,774 | 97 | $390,238 |
| Oshkosh | $64,790 | $54,060 | $51,901 | 93 | $304,543 |
| Sheboygan | $64,040 | $51,890 | $51,343 | 94 | $324,544 |
| Green Bay | $62,790 | $49,940 | $50,413 | 93 | $346,517 |
| La Crosse | $62,770 | $48,260 | $50,398 | 92 | $335,330 |
| Fond du Lac | $62,420 | $50,340 | $50,136 | 92 | $291,420 |
| Appleton | $62,240 | $49,910 | $50,002 | 92 | $350,370 |
| Janesville | $61,110 | $48,390 | $49,155 | 94 | $296,342 |
| Eau Claire | $60,760 | $48,100 | $48,894 | 93 | $327,164 |
| Kenosha | $60,490 | $48,310 | $48,690 | 101 | $247,800 |
| Wausau | $60,120 | $48,790 | $48,411 | 93 | $274,194 |
| Racine | $60,060 | $48,870 | $48,365 | 96 | $316,876 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Wisconsin
- Surgeons, All Other · Milwaukee$610,250
- Physicians, All Other · Appleton$407,640
- Physicians, All Other · Green Bay$386,010
- Physicians, All Other · Milwaukee$385,480
- Physicians, All Other · Eau Claire$383,190
- Physicians, All Other · Sheboygan$379,610
- Physicians, All Other · Oshkosh$370,420
- Physicians, All Other · Racine$365,100
- Physicians, All Other · Wausau$353,490
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Oshkosh$350,180
Most common jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 82,430 | $35,370 | $36,340 | $37,480 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 70,520 | $44,080 | $44,610 | $48,700 |
| Registered Nurses | 68,060 | $94,690 | $95,530 | $100,430 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 67,750 | $29,110 | $28,600 | $30,970 |
| Retail Salespersons | 67,640 | $36,400 | $34,480 | $37,950 |
| Cashiers | 65,380 | $31,800 | $30,880 | $33,940 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 53,330 | $58,890 | $58,610 | $63,330 |
| Office Clerks, General | 51,440 | $45,040 | $44,980 | $48,000 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 50,840 | $48,770 | $46,970 | $50,710 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 47,580 | $37,270 | $35,000 | $44,210 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Wisconsin
Wisconsin income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Wisconsin's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
Wisconsin at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Salary in Wisconsin: questions
What is the average salary in Wisconsin?
$64,270 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 8% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Wisconsin?
$50,270 a year: half of Wisconsin workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Wisconsin?
$30.90 an hour on average, and $24.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Wisconsin pays the most?
Madison, with an average of $70,990 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Wisconsin expensive to live in?
BEA puts Wisconsin prices 6% below the U.S. average (price parity 94.1). Within the state, Kenosha 101, Madison 97, Milwaukee 97 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Wisconsin.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.