Jobs, pay and daily life in Milwaukee, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Milwaukee is a city in Wisconsin with 563,512 residents. The median household earns $56,792 a year and the median rent is $1,081 a month, which is 22.8% of the median household income. It is part of the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan area, where BLS counts 820,780 jobs.
Federal jobs in Wisconsin (285) →State guide: WisconsinCountry guide
There are 285 federal postings open in Wisconsin (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Wisconsin →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 30,090 | 1.32 | $37,020 | $27,930 | $39,150 | +3% |
| Registered Nurses | 22,400 | 1.26 | $97,360 | $78,730 | $119,490 | -0% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 19,810 | 1.27 | $44,840 | $34,840 | $57,530 | +11% |
| Retail Salespersons | 18,850 | 0.92 | $34,410 | $27,850 | $47,700 | -3% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 17,490 | 0.86 | $28,440 | $22,530 | $36,850 | -9% |
| Cashiers | 15,050 | 0.92 | $30,400 | $23,320 | $37,510 | -8% |
| Office Clerks, General | 14,820 | 1.14 | $44,040 | $24,960 | $60,970 | -2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 14,380 | 1.23 | $36,620 | $29,600 | $47,740 | -1% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 14,080 | 1.03 | $47,840 | $33,910 | $66,390 | +7% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 12,020 | 0.80 | $34,470 | $29,210 | $48,250 | -8% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 10,790 | 1.65 | $73,880 | $40,370 | $133,810 | +2% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 10,520 | 1.42 | $45,770 | $36,470 | $59,720 | +3% |
| General and Operations Managers | 10,480 | 0.57 | $125,490 | $61,420 | $260,040 | +19% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 10,250 | 0.94 | $59,580 | $45,300 | $77,940 | +2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 10,020 | 0.84 | $30,330 | $17,920 | $61,890 | -14% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 8,270 | 1.02 | $56,320 | $36,390 | $76,920 | +14% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 7,960 | 1.04 | $80,290 | $60,340 | $132,150 | -4% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 7,930 | 0.88 | $48,480 | $37,440 | $62,730 | +2% |
| Nursing Assistants | 7,880 | 1.03 | $45,690 | $38,850 | $49,160 | +8% |
| Bartenders | 7,330 | 1.84 | $25,970 | $16,930 | $40,250 | -24% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 2,390 | 1.32 | $411,200 | $232,480 | $478,990 | +55% |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 500 | 2.87 | ≥ $239,200 | ≥ $239,200 | ≥ $239,200 | n/a |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 2,520 | 0.71 | $161,220 | $102,710 | $230,000 | -8% |
| Financial Managers | 5,160 | 1.16 | $156,100 | $92,060 | $269,270 | -6% |
| Dentists, General | 830 | 1.27 | $155,940 | $117,460 | $283,800 | -9% |
| Pharmacists | 1,760 | 1.04 | $153,340 | $120,600 | $180,910 | +9% |
| Sales Managers | 3,240 | 0.96 | $144,560 | $78,960 | $229,400 | -3% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 1,610 | 1.38 | $143,570 | $103,100 | $209,240 | -16% |
| Human Resources Managers | 1,190 | 1.02 | $136,530 | $96,770 | $225,010 | -9% |
| Physician Assistants | 1,220 | 1.43 | $135,040 | $97,090 | $169,360 | -1% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,450 | 0.85 | $134,350 | $109,350 | $168,760 | +2% |
| Computer Network Architects | 790 | 0.83 | $134,070 | $92,190 | $169,890 | +0% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 2,320 | 0.74 | $133,270 | $95,170 | $332,860 | +8% |
| Lawyers | 4,040 | 1.02 | $131,100 | $78,970 | $436,120 | -18% |
| Marketing Managers | 1,580 | 0.76 | $130,700 | $81,980 | $216,350 | -22% |
| Managers, All Other | 3,280 | 1.00 | $129,300 | $79,120 | $203,090 | -9% |
| Purchasing Managers | 610 | 1.38 | $127,950 | $83,250 | $202,010 | -14% |
| General and Operations Managers | 10,480 | 0.57 | $125,490 | $61,420 | $260,040 | +19% |
| Software Developers | 6,170 | 0.69 | $123,730 | $77,740 | $164,660 | -9% |
| Construction Managers | 1,680 | 0.84 | $119,170 | $77,170 | $169,000 | +4% |
These figures are for the whole Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $51,160 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.2% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% |
| Manufacturing | 14.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.4% |
| Retail trade | 10.8% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 10.7% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.0% |
| Other services | 4.4% |
| Construction | 3.9% |
| Public administration | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.1% |
| Information | 1.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.4% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 65.8% |
| Public transit | 5.4% |
| Walk | 4.9% |
| Work from home | 10.8% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 7.8% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,792 |
| Income per person | $31,785 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,081 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 22.8% |
| Median home value | $207,900 |
| Homeowners | 43.4% |
| Poverty rate | 21.2% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 96.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $51,160 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 7.65%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 84.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 30.7% |
| Born abroad | 11.9% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 65.0% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -6.8 | 20 | 40 |
| Feb | -5.6 | 22 | 43 |
| Mar | 0.9 | 34 | 59 |
| Apr | 6.9 | 44 | 96 |
| May | 13.1 | 56 | 109 |
| Jun | 19.0 | 66 | 125 |
| Jul | 22.5 | 72 | 95 |
| Aug | 21.7 | 71 | 100 |
| Sep | 17.6 | 64 | 90 |
| Oct | 10.0 | 50 | 82 |
| Nov | 3.0 | 37 | 55 |
| Dec | -3.5 | 26 | 54 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | WI | 74 mi | 278,001 | $78,050 | $1,413 |
| Rockford | IL | 79 mi | 147,521 | $54,752 | $985 |
| Chicago | IL | 86 mi | 2,721,326 | $80,613 | $1,486 |
| Aurora | IL | 91 mi | 179,898 | $93,633 | $1,596 |
| Naperville | IL | 91 mi | 150,692 | $155,105 | $1,885 |
| Joliet | IL | 107 mi | 150,445 | $92,201 | $1,276 |
| Grand Rapids | MI | 117 mi | 198,535 | $69,108 | $1,266 |
| Fort Wayne | IN | 199 mi | 268,589 | $61,422 | $999 |
| Cedar Rapids | IA | 204 mi | 137,264 | $70,424 | $967 |
| Ann Arbor | MI | 222 mi | 122,036 | $82,212 | $1,649 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
563,512 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,081 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 22.8% of the median household income.
$56,792 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.2% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Wisconsin. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.