Physicists pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $279,870 or more. The middle half of physicists in Milwaukee earn between $129,390 and $246,720.
- $96K10th
- $129K25th
- $173KMedian
- $247K75th
- $280K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $190,130 | $15,844 | $91.41 |
| Median | $173,160 | $14,430 | $83.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $129,390 | $10,782 | $62.21 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $246,720 | $20,560 | $118.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Physicists in Milwaukee earn 5% more than the Wisconsin average ($181,180) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $190,130 | $173,160 | $96,110 | $279,870 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $181,180 | $173,120 | $89,310 | $291,910 | 180 |
| United States | $171,180 | $172,250 | $82,110 | $274,110 | 20,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physicists salary after taxes in Milwaukee
On the average salary of $190,130, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $132,133 a year, or $11,011 a month and $5,082 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $190,130 buys what about $196,138 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 1st of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Milwaukee$190,130
- Madison$137,180
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Milwaukee: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Milwaukee?
$91.41 an hour on average, and $83.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $96,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $129,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $132,133 a year ($11,011 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $190,130.
Do physicists earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($171,180).
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 19-2012; area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). 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 0.44, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.44).
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