Jobs, pay and daily life in Oshkosh, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Oshkosh is a city in Wisconsin with 66,729 residents. The median household earns $62,188 a year and the median rent is $935 a month, which is 18.0% of the median household income. It is part of the Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metropolitan area, where BLS counts 93,750 jobs.
How Oshkosh compares. Among the 80 largest places in Wisconsin, Oshkosh is #9 by population, #71 for household income (#1 = highest), #11 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #68 for homeownership (#1 = highest). Its county, Winnebago County, is #4 of 72 counties for average pay ($64,380).
Oshkosh has 66,729 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 1.1% of the population of Wisconsin. It covers 28 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,423 people per square mile. The median age is 34.4, 14% younger than the state median (34.4 against 40.2).
The median gross rent is $935 a month (rent plus utilities), 14% below the state median ($935 against $1,087). Over a year that is 18.0% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $177,700, which is 2.9 times the median household income ($62,188); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 55.0% of households own their home, 19% below the state average (55.0% against 67.8%).
The Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metropolitan area has 93,750 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $54,060 a year, 6% above the national median ($54,060 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are production (13,350 jobs, median $57,000); office and administrative support (10,780 jobs, median $47,230); transportation and material moving (7,920 jobs, median $45,790). The area is most specialised in production (2.6 times) and business and financial operations (1.0 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($124,470) and healthcare practitioners and technical ($82,460). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Winnebago County was 2.7%. 64.0% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Winnebago County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 75.8% drive alone, 0.8% use public transit, 3.3% walk, 10.4% work from home. 5.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 42% below the state average (5.9% against 10.2%).
27.4% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 18% below the state share (27.4% against 33.4%). 3.8% of residents were born outside the United States, 28% below the state share (3.8% against 5.2%). The poverty rate is 17.5%, 65% above the state rate (17.5% against 10.6%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 72°F (22.1°C), and the coolest is Jan at 16°F (-8.7°C). About 879 mm (35 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (121 mm) and Jan the driest (33 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Neenah (11 miles, rent 8% higher); Fox Crossing (14 miles, rent 8% higher); Menasha (15 miles, rent 3% lower); Harrison (18 miles, rent 52% higher). Rent differences are against Oshkosh; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Wisconsin (285) →State guide: WisconsinCountry guideWinnebago CountyWisconsin rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
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 | 2,210 | 0.85 | $35,700 | $24,020 | $38,900 | -0% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 2,080 | 1.17 | $45,970 | $34,900 | $59,220 | +14% |
| Registered Nurses | 2,050 | 1.01 | $87,340 | $78,070 | $109,900 | -10% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 2,040 | 2.41 | $57,260 | $39,990 | $63,930 | +28% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,990 | 1.27 | $43,240 | $35,150 | $62,100 | -3% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,960 | 0.84 | $28,610 | $22,580 | $35,580 | -8% |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,800 | 0.77 | $32,690 | $25,970 | $46,950 | -8% |
| Cashiers | 1,660 | 0.89 | $30,550 | $23,660 | $36,980 | -7% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,610 | 1.30 | $59,490 | $45,790 | $76,660 | +1% |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,490 | 1.00 | $45,030 | $31,060 | $60,730 | +0% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,280 | 0.75 | $34,750 | $28,380 | $45,380 | -7% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,280 | 1.71 | $61,240 | $38,650 | $106,380 | -15% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,210 | 0.91 | $36,140 | $30,590 | $47,280 | -2% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,100 | 0.52 | $111,210 | $59,510 | $244,760 | +5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 1,040 | 2.56 | $76,160 | $51,780 | $101,450 | +2% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 990 | 1.08 | $58,470 | $38,500 | $80,120 | +18% |
| Bartenders | 960 | 2.11 | $23,120 | $16,790 | $39,620 | -33% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 950 | 0.69 | $29,840 | $16,310 | $62,640 | -15% |
| Nursing Assistants | 900 | 1.03 | $44,590 | $38,370 | $48,480 | +6% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 890 | 1.08 | $49,290 | $37,970 | $70,040 | -3% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | 580 | 1.14 | $137,120 | $77,730 | $227,870 | -18% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,100 | 0.52 | $111,210 | $59,510 | $244,760 | +5% |
| Software Developers | 600 | 0.59 | $104,000 | $77,570 | $160,670 | -24% |
| Industrial Engineers | 670 | 3.06 | $97,180 | $75,020 | $128,220 | -5% |
| Project Management Specialists | 860 | 1.34 | $94,030 | $59,420 | $128,410 | -8% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 670 | 1.37 | $93,210 | $62,440 | $105,090 | +17% |
| Registered Nurses | 2,050 | 1.01 | $87,340 | $78,070 | $109,900 | -10% |
| Carpenters | 650 | 1.60 | $84,430 | $48,660 | $100,270 | +39% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 690 | 0.79 | $77,580 | $51,650 | $123,100 | -7% |
| Electricians | 810 | 1.78 | $77,080 | $45,830 | $98,820 | +22% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 1,040 | 2.56 | $76,160 | $51,780 | $101,450 | +2% |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 530 | 2.00 | $75,680 | $52,280 | $86,720 | +17% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 530 | 0.96 | $68,940 | $48,530 | $102,500 | -9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 740 | 0.85 | $66,040 | $45,610 | $100,290 | -5% |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | 520 | 2.19 | $63,170 | $44,700 | $79,520 | +6% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 600 | 1.10 | $63,060 | $40,270 | $102,730 | -20% |
| Logisticians | 510 | 3.40 | $61,260 | $51,490 | $97,790 | -26% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 1,280 | 1.71 | $61,240 | $38,650 | $106,380 | -15% |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 540 | 2.15 | $60,720 | $47,420 | $67,210 | +13% |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 570 | 0.75 | $60,410 | $41,230 | $104,450 | -14% |
These figures are for the whole Oshkosh-Neenah, WI metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $54,060 (US $50,980); unemployment 2.7% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% |
| Manufacturing | 21.7% |
| Retail trade | 13.8% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 8.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 7.8% |
| Other services | 5.4% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.0% |
| Public administration | 3.9% |
| Construction | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.8% |
| Information | 1.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.2% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Oshkosh lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | 171,769 | $13,881 million | $80,813 | 93,556 | 4,383 | $64,380 | +0.8% | 2.7% | 91,902 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20,798 | 26.1% | $77,463 | 2.71 |
| Health care and social assistance | 11,559 | 14.5% | $58,276 | 0.86 |
| Retail trade | 8,336 | 10.5% | $33,654 | 0.89 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,690 | 8.4% | $19,793 | 0.79 |
| Construction | 5,612 | 7.0% | $87,642 | 1.14 |
| Management of companies | 5,219 | 6.5% | $137,502 | 3.31 |
| Administrative and waste services | 4,100 | 5.1% | $43,069 | 0.74 |
| Professional and technical services | 3,892 | 4.9% | $73,175 | 0.60 |
| Finance and insurance | 3,656 | 4.6% | $88,303 | 0.96 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3,258 | 4.1% | $34,652 | 1.16 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,223 | 4.0% | $55,695 | 0.81 |
| Information | 1,461 | 1.8% | $78,288 | 0.83 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 807 | 1.0% | $25,811 | 0.51 |
| Real estate and rental | 736 | 0.9% | $45,082 | 0.51 |
| Educational services | 404 | 0.5% | $22,052 | 0.21 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 75.8% |
| Public transit | 0.8% |
| Walk | 3.3% |
| Work from home | 10.4% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 5.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,188 |
| Income per person | $33,003 |
| Median gross rent per month | $935 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 18.0% |
| Median home value | $177,700 |
| Homeowners | 55.0% |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 92.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $54,060 |
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 | 34.4 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 93.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 27.4% |
| Born abroad | 3.8% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 64.0% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -8.7 | 16 | 33 |
| Feb | -7.4 | 19 | 35 |
| Mar | -0.1 | 32 | 54 |
| Apr | 6.5 | 44 | 88 |
| May | 13.1 | 56 | 107 |
| Jun | 19.0 | 66 | 121 |
| Jul | 22.1 | 72 | 89 |
| Aug | 21.1 | 70 | 95 |
| Sep | 16.8 | 62 | 84 |
| Oct | 8.9 | 48 | 78 |
| Nov | 1.9 | 35 | 49 |
| Dec | -5.2 | 23 | 46 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neenah | WI | 11 mi | 27,336 | $75,374 | $1,006 |
| Fox Crossing | WI | 14 mi | 19,131 | $79,187 | $1,009 |
| Menasha | WI | 15 mi | 18,273 | $64,698 | $903 |
| Harrison | WI | 18 mi | 13,658 | $121,504 | $1,422 |
| Fond du Lac | WI | 18 mi | 44,494 | $62,260 | $913 |
| Appleton | WI | 20 mi | 75,023 | $80,483 | $1,030 |
| Kaukauna | WI | 23 mi | 17,706 | $80,365 | $1,083 |
| De Pere | WI | 37 mi | 25,301 | $84,869 | $1,053 |
| Ashwaubenon | WI | 39 mi | 17,314 | $69,667 | $964 |
| Beaver Dam | WI | 41 mi | 16,565 | $66,673 | $959 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
66,729 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$935 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 18.0% of the median household income.
$62,188 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
2.7% (BLS county, Winnebago County (latest month 2026M09)).
Wisconsin. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.