What is the average salary in Milwaukee, WI?

$65,890a year

Average yearly pay across 596 jobs with official data in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, weighted by employment. Each job below shows its median.

Hourly: $31.68
Jobs with data: 596
Workers counted: 801,110

Highest paying jobs

Median yearly pay.

Surgeon	$762,400
Physician	$411,200
Psychiatrist	$331,500
Obstetrician and Gynecologist	$300,500
Family Medicine Physician	$287,400
Nurse Anesthetist	$282,800
Pediatrician	$276,500
Anesthesiologist	$239,200
Cardiologist	$239,200
Dermatologist	$239,200

Most common jobs

Median yearly pay.

Home Health and Personal Care Aide	$37,020
Registered Nurse	$97,360
Laborer and Freight	$44,840
Retail Salesperson	$34,410
Fast Food and Counter Worker	$28,440
Cashier	$30,400
Office Clerk	$44,040
Janitor and Cleaner	$36,620
Customer Service Representative	$47,840
Stocker and Order Filler	$34,470

Management

Administrative Services Manager$117,000
Advertising and Promotions Manager$145,000
Architectural and Engineering Manager$143,600
Chief Executive$216,200
Compensation and Benefits Manager$127,900
Computer and Information Systems Manager$161,200
Construction Manager$119,200
Education Administrator$116,000
Education Administrator$126,400
Education Administrator$77,890
Education and Childcare Administrator$58,760
Emergency Management Director$90,780
Entertainment and Recreation Manager$78,190
Facilities Manager$103,600
Financial Manager$156,100
Fundraising Manager$127,000
Funeral Home Manager$81,400
General and Operations Manager$125,500
Human Resources Manager$136,500
Industrial Production Manager$119,600
Lodging Manager$77,300
Manager$129,300
Marketing Manager$130,700
Medical and Health Services Manager$133,300
Natural Sciences Manager$140,200
Postmaster and Mail Superintendent$104,200
Property$80,200
Public Relations Manager$119,300
Purchasing Manager$128,000
Sales Manager$144,600
Social and Community Service Manager$82,290
Training and Development Manager$123,600
Transportation$100,400

Business and financial operations

Accountant and Auditor$80,290
Budget Analyst$82,130
Business Operations Specialist$59,170
Buyer and Purchasing Agent$76,800
Claims Adjuster$79,770
Compensation$77,860
Compliance Officer$81,540
Cost Estimator$78,090
Credit Analyst$71,690
Credit Counselor$54,830
Financial and Investment Analyst$96,700
Financial Examiner$90,770
Financial Risk Specialist$100,900
Financial Specialist$62,510
Fundraiser$66,080
Human Resources Specialist$74,970
Insurance Appraiser$76,370
Insurance Underwriter$106,600
Labor Relations Specialist$105,300
Loan Officer$83,660
Logistician$78,560
Management Analyst$102,900
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$73,880
Meeting$56,090
Personal Financial Advisor$125,800
Project Management Specialist$100,400
Property Appraiser and Assessor$78,710
Tax Examiner and Collector$69,780
Tax Preparer$50,430
Training and Development Specialist$73,930

Computer and mathematical

Actuary$132,000
Computer Network Architect$134,100
Computer Network Support Specialist$74,960
Computer Occupation$83,120
Computer Programmer$85,280
Computer Systems Analyst$102,100
Computer User Support Specialist$60,230
Data Scientist$104,700
Database Administrator$101,500
Database Architect$148,000
Information Security Analyst$101,600
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$90,140
Operations Research Analyst$74,850
Software Developer$123,700
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester$97,390
Statistician$103,300
Web and Digital Interface Designer$100,700

Architecture and engineering

Architect$99,680
Architectural and Civil Drafter$61,960
Bioengineer and Biomedical Engineer$129,600
Calibration Technologist and Technician$61,080
Cartographer and Photogrammetrist$77,980
Civil Engineer$96,190
Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician$76,200
Computer Hardware Engineer$99,010
Drafter$80,470
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician$74,660
Electrical and Electronics Drafter$73,530
Electrical Engineer$98,950
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician$78,260
Electronics Engineer$109,200
Engineer$106,300
Engineering Technologist and Technician$78,650
Environmental Engineer$86,360
Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician$49,360
Health and Safety Engineer$93,710
Industrial Engineer$100,000
Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician$65,270
Landscape Architect$64,330
Materials Engineer$96,790
Mechanical Drafter$69,150
Mechanical Engineer$98,730
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician$66,300
Surveying and Mapping Technician$61,340
Surveyor$81,400

Life, physical, and social science

Atmospheric and Space Scientist$72,800
Biological Scientist$81,640
Biological Technician$50,320
Chemical Technician$61,230
Chemist$78,860
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$109,900
Conservation Scientist$66,680
Economist$76,900
Environmental Science and Protection Technician$51,050
Environmental Scientist and Specialist$76,280
Food Science Technician$73,030
Food Scientist and Technologist$86,230
Forensic Science Technician$73,740
Forest and Conservation Technician$63,300
Forester$76,330
Hydrologist$78,120
Life$47,220
Medical Scientist$82,880
Microbiologist$65,160
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$87,450
Occupational Health and Safety Technician$69,980
Physicist$173,200
Psychologist$80,200
School Psychologist$95,090
Soil and Plant Scientist$66,200
Urban and Regional Planner$101,200

Community and social service

Child$59,180
Clergy$61,730
Community and Social Service Specialist$59,260
Community Health Worker$49,920
Counselor$54,770
Director$39,560
Educational$60,790
Health Education Specialist$75,910
Healthcare Social Worker$69,180
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$62,770
Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$61,690
Rehabilitation Counselor$47,390
Social and Human Service Assistant$46,650
Social Worker$63,040
Substance Abuse$61,960

Legal

Administrative Law Judge$132,300
Arbitrator$105,400
Judicial Law Clerk$62,560
Lawyer$131,100
Legal Support Worker$66,160
Paralegal and Legal Assistant$60,340
Title Examiner$50,790

Educational instruction and library

Adult Basic Education$57,300
Archivist$59,620
Area$78,770
Art$79,550
Atmospheric$82,810
Biological Science Teacher$83,520
Business Teacher$100,100
Career/Technical Education Teacher$83,370
Career/Technical Education Teacher$79,320
Career/Technical Education Teacher$81,730
Chemistry Teacher$77,140
Communications Teacher$79,180
Computer Science Teacher$96,660
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher$81,690
Curator$66,310
Economics Teacher$99,950
Education Teacher$74,790
Educational Instruction and Library Worker$61,520
Elementary School Teacher$61,480
Engineering Teacher$105,900
English Language and Literature Teacher$85,180
Environmental Science Teacher$102,100
Foreign Language and Literature Teacher$78,490
Health Specialties Teacher$82,340
History Teacher$81,380
Instructional Coordinator$79,490
Kindergarten Teacher$62,940
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$74,240
Library Technician$37,860
Mathematical Science Teacher$80,480
Middle School Teacher$64,360
Museum Technician and Conservator$45,050
Nursing Instructor and Teacher$84,700
Philosophy and Religion Teacher$78,750
Physics Teacher$79,760
Political Science Teacher$83,300
Postsecondary Teacher$96,500
Preschool Teacher$36,240
Psychology Teacher$77,440
Secondary School Teacher$75,370
Self-Enrichment Teacher$41,960
Social Work Teacher$77,060
Sociology Teacher$98,500
Special Education Teacher$58,320
Special Education Teacher$62,110
Special Education Teacher$76,660
Special Education Teacher$63,190
Special Education Teacher$79,320
Substitute Teacher$46,190
Teacher and Instructor$66,450
Teaching Assistant$30,670
Teaching Assistant$38,060
Tutor$36,240

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

Actor$17,700
Art Director$91,260
Audio and Video Technician$52,020
Broadcast Announcer and Radio Disc Jockey$48,370
Broadcast Technician$74,760
Camera Operator$52,920
Coach and Scout$46,520
Commercial and Industrial Designer$80,590
Dancer$54,680
Editor$66,560
Film and Video Editor$64,640
Fine Artist$56,890
Floral Designer$36,570
Graphic Designer$61,780
Interior Designer$64,550
Interpreter and Translator$64,700
Media and Communication Worker$79,350
Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$40,070
Musician and Singer$81,600
News Analyst$63,050
Photographer$44,940
Producer and Director$63,320
Public Relations Specialist$65,520
Sound Engineering Technician$55,090
Technical Writer$82,370
Umpire$62,400
Writer and Author$63,910

Healthcare practitioners and technical

Anesthesiologist$239,200
Athletic Trainer$60,640
Audiologist$105,800
Cardiologist$239,200
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician$68,220
Chiropractor$74,990
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician$63,190
Dental Hygienist$98,780
Dentist$155,900
Dermatologist$239,200
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$105,500
Dietetic Technician$44,080
Dietitian and Nutritionist$77,660
Emergency Medical Technician$48,880
Emergency Medicine Physician$239,200
Exercise Physiologist$61,640
Family Medicine Physician$287,400
General Internal Medicine Physician$239,200
Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar$92,750
Health Technologist and Technician$51,350
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioner$92,770
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Worker$81,580
Hearing Aid Specialist$76,750
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse$65,410
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist$97,070
Medical Records Specialist$65,730
Neurologist$239,200
Nuclear Medicine Technologist$105,500
Nurse Anesthetist$282,800
Nurse Midwive$141,500
Nurse Practitioner$134,400
Obstetrician and Gynecologist$300,500
Occupational Therapist$94,020
Ophthalmic Medical Technician$61,580
Optician$45,930
Optometrist$132,100
Orthopedic Surgeon$239,200
Orthotist and Prosthetist$91,730
Paramedic$61,430
Pediatrician$276,500
Pharmacist$153,300
Pharmacy Technician$47,300
Physical Therapist$103,000
Physician$411,200
Physician Assistant$135,000
Podiatrist$136,800
Psychiatric Technician$38,560
Psychiatrist$331,500
Radiation Therapist$103,200
Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,180
Recreational Therapist$63,950
Registered Nurse$97,360
Respiratory Therapist$89,040
Speech-Language Pathologist$88,190
Surgeon$762,400
Surgical Assistant$81,690
Surgical Technologist$74,830
Therapist$57,660
Veterinarian$117,800
Veterinary Technologist and Technician$47,770

Healthcare support

Dental Assistant$47,140
Healthcare Support Worker$46,310
Home Health and Personal Care Aide$37,020
Massage Therapist$56,350
Medical Assistant$49,590
Medical Equipment Preparer$47,800
Medical Transcriptionist$49,780
Nursing Assistant$45,690
Occupational Therapy Assistant$62,440
Orderly$42,840
Pharmacy Aide$36,670
Phlebotomist$47,000
Physical Therapist Aide$38,810
Physical Therapist Assistant$65,630
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$37,770

Protective service

Correctional Officer and Jailer$63,910
Crossing Guard and Flagger$32,850
Detective and Criminal Investigator$92,910
Firefighter$49,760
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$77,310
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$80,960
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$105,700
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Worker$77,310
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$55,270
Lifeguard$29,060
Parking Enforcement Worker$49,060
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$82,090
Private Detective and Investigator$41,850
Protective Service Worker$49,570
Security Guard$37,870
Transportation Security Screener$63,900

Food preparation and serving

Bartender$25,970
Chef and Head Cook$61,580
Cook$28,910
Cook$38,980
Cook$37,180
Cook$28,130
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$27,310
Dishwasher$29,170
Fast Food and Counter Worker$28,440
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker$40,080
Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker$25,470
Food Preparation Worker$35,470
Food Server$34,900
Host and Hostess$28,010
Waiter and Waitress$30,330

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker$50,590
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping$63,320
Janitor and Cleaner$36,620
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker$44,440
Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner$36,280
Pest Control Worker$47,300
Pesticide Handler$46,800
Tree Trimmer and Pruner$60,100

Personal care and service

Amusement and Recreation Attendant$28,280
Animal Caretaker$30,270
Animal Trainer$40,520
Baggage Porter and Bellhop$30,740
Barber$35,370
Childcare Worker$33,280
Concierge$42,010
Costume Attendant$40,440
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$46,190
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker$49,930
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Worker$46,700
Hairdresser$38,190
Locker Room$28,210
Manicurist and Pedicurist$36,170
Mortician$57,650
Personal Care and Service Worker$30,090
Recreation Worker$35,950
Residential Advisor$41,300
Skincare Specialist$44,270
Tour and Travel Guide$30,160
Usher$28,440

Sales and related

Advertising Sales Agent$66,790
Cashier$30,400
Counter and Rental Clerk$44,740
Demonstrator and Product Promoter$35,880
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Worker$92,090
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Worker$50,390
Insurance Sales Agent$81,080
Parts Salesperson$46,800
Real Estate Broker$168,300
Real Estate Sales Agent$60,530
Retail Salesperson$34,410
Sale and Related Worker$46,160
Sales Engineer$120,000
Sales Representative$77,500
Sales Representative$73,880
Sales Representatives of Service$64,890
Security$75,000
Telemarketer$33,230
Travel Agent$48,030

Office and administrative support

Bill and Account Collector$50,360
Billing and Posting Clerk$48,680
Bookkeeping$50,920
Brokerage Clerk$62,580
Cargo and Freight Agent$59,660
Courier and Messenger$36,560
Court$58,370
Credit Authorizer$60,670
Customer Service Representative$47,840
Data Entry Keyer$39,650
Dispatcher$51,860
Eligibility Interviewer$51,440
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$74,240
File Clerk$45,970
Financial Clerk$51,670
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Worker$73,970
Hotel$36,160
Human Resources Assistant$48,630
Information and Record Clerk$52,000
Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk$53,980
Interviewer$47,110
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$59,830
Library Assistant$43,450
Loan Interviewer and Clerk$49,060
Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator$37,730
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant$48,560
New Accounts Clerk$48,750
Office and Administrative Support Worker$47,490
Office Clerk$44,040
Office Machine Operator$43,310
Order Clerk$47,470
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk$60,510
Postal Service Clerk$62,610
Postal Service Mail Carrier$61,130
Postal Service Mail Sorter$58,300
Procurement Clerk$49,330
Production$59,190
Public Safety Telecommunicator$62,130
Receptionist and Information Clerk$42,920
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk$38,200
Secretary and Administrative Assistant$48,480
Shipping$47,900
Switchboard Operator$42,190
Teller$44,100
Weigher$47,450

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Farmworker$29,790
Farmworker and Laborer$35,460
Forest and Conservation Worker$52,850

Construction and extraction

Brickmason and Blockmason$96,010
Carpenter$63,910
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$74,730
Construction and Building Inspector$77,220
Construction Laborer$57,430
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer$60,800
Earth Driller$61,390
Electrician$77,800
Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer$78,110
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator$61,140
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker$91,760
Glazier$71,970
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker$48,240
Helpers--Electrician$43,750
Helpers--Pipelayer$39,020
Highway Maintenance Worker$60,660
Insulation Worker$50,120
Insulation Worker$86,310
Miscellaneous Construction and Related Worker$80,550
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$79,430
Painter$50,620
Paving$83,370
Pipelayer$93,550
Plumber$84,700
Roofer$60,140
Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner$60,500
Sheet Metal Worker$78,840
Structural Iron and Steel Worker$95,730
Tile and Stone Setter$64,160

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician$74,480
Automotive Body and Related Repairer$57,030
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer$49,410
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$62,530
Avionics Technician$83,080
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$62,920
Coin$58,940
Computer$48,010
Control and Valve Installer and Repairer$76,530
Electric Motor$81,810
Electrical and Electronics Repairer$71,770
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer$109,000
Electronic Equipment Installer and Repairer$45,430
Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician$60,810
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanic$85,200
Heating$62,930
Helpers--Installation$41,600
Industrial Machinery Mechanic$72,680
Installation$49,100
Locksmith and Safe Repairer$61,170
Maintenance and Repair Worker$56,320
Maintenance Worker$66,000
Medical Equipment Repairer$64,170
Millwright$84,850
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic$75,960
Motorboat Mechanic and Service Technician$58,750
Motorcycle Mechanic$48,670
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic$49,300
Radio$56,890
Rigger$65,820
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer$62,460
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer$61,090
Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer$76,510
Tire Repairer and Changer$40,480

Production

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operator and Tender$50,720
Baker$37,580
Butcher and Meat Cutter$47,780
Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter$48,900
Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender$50,020
Cleaning$64,850
Coating$48,870
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$57,780
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer$66,860
Crushing$59,930
Cutting$48,650
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setter$48,040
Dental Laboratory Technician$47,480
Electrical$46,380
Engine and Other Machine Assembler$47,620
Etcher and Engraver$49,800
Extruding$40,000
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter$46,520
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$75,660
Food and Tobacco Roasting$49,090
Food Batchmaker$43,410
Food Cooking Machine Operator and Tender$39,410
Food Processing Worker$39,420
Forging Machine Setter$60,500
Foundry Mold and Coremaker$46,200
Furniture Finisher$45,070
Grinding$47,750
Grinding and Polishing Worker$47,840
Heat Treating Equipment Setter$49,280
Helpers--Production Worker$41,820
Inspector$49,180
Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker$50,400
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter$50,870
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$36,310
Machinist$60,320
Meat$48,890
Medical Appliance Technician$51,230
Metal Worker and Plastic Worker$47,300
Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender$49,310
Milling and Planing Machine Setter$60,140
Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator$45,770
Mixing and Blending Machine Setter$49,480
Molding$43,390
Multiple Machine Tool Setter$49,080
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$45,980
Paper Goods Machine Setter$54,410
Patternmaker$49,070
Plating Machine Setter$46,630
Pourer and Caster$53,100
Power Plant Operator$75,300
Prepress Technician and Worker$48,230
Presser$35,240
Print Binding and Finishing Worker$44,360
Printing Press Operator$47,400
Production Worker$44,230
Rolling Machine Setter$54,680
Sawing Machine Setter$39,570
Sewing Machine Operator$38,600
Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer$46,210
Slaughterer and Meat Packer$43,060
Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$69,600
Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$57,240
Tailor$44,130
Textile Cutting Machine Setter$39,630
Tool and Die Maker$68,120
Upholsterer$45,870
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$66,980
Welder$59,390
Welding$52,180
Woodworking Machine Setter$42,360

Transportation and material moving

Airfield Operations Specialist$38,160
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$36,510
Bus Driver$48,290
Bus Driver$61,360
Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$35,080
Commercial Pilot$177,700
Crane and Tower Operator$59,430
Driver/Sales Worker$22,350
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker$64,100
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$59,580
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$47,780
Laborer and Freight$44,840
Light Truck Driver$45,790
Machine Feeder and Offbearer$59,870
Material Moving Worker$35,390
Motor Vehicle Operator$40,800
Packer and Packager$35,070
Parking Attendant$30,470
Passenger Attendant$26,140
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$63,640
Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$35,940
Stocker and Order Filler$34,470
Taxi Driver$28,530
Transportation Inspector$95,760
Transportation Worker$41,700

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary in Milwaukee, WI?

About $65,890 a year ($31.68 an hour): the average of the 596 jobs with official data, weighted by how many people do each one.

What are the highest paying jobs in Milwaukee, WI?

Surgeon ($762,400), Physician ($411,200), Psychiatrist ($331,500).

What are the most common jobs in Milwaukee, WI?

Home Health and Personal Care Aide (30,090 jobs), Registered Nurse (22,400 jobs), Laborer and Freight (19,810 jobs).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.