Wisconsin Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Wisconsin from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $50,270 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 3.2%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr
- Federal rate applies
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $324
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Wisconsin
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologists | 200 | $636,580 | $549,880 |
| 2 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 290 | $572,060 | $535,750 |
| 3 | Anesthesiologists | 790 | $443,990 | $411,910 |
| 4 | Dermatologists | 160 | $440,710 | $459,550 |
| 5 | Surgeons, All Other | 550 | $416,000 | $450,490 |
| 6 | Radiologists | 980 | $392,610 | $381,720 |
| 7 | Physicians, All Other | 6,350 | $391,740 | $364,840 |
| 8 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 1,450 | $367,160 | $334,100 |
Most common jobs in Wisconsin
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 82,430 | $36,340 | $35,370 |
| 2 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 70,520 | $44,610 | $44,080 |
| 3 | Registered Nurses | 68,060 | $95,530 | $94,690 |
| 4 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 67,750 | $28,600 | $29,110 |
| 5 | Retail Salespersons | 67,640 | $34,480 | $36,400 |
| 6 | Cashiers | 65,380 | $30,880 | $31,800 |
| 7 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 53,330 | $58,610 | $58,890 |
| 8 | Office Clerks, General | 51,440 | $44,980 | $45,040 |
Wages by metro area
- Appleton, WI
- Eau Claire, WI
- Fond du Lac, WI
- Green Bay, WI
- Janesville-Beloit, WI
- Kenosha, WI
- La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
- Madison, WI
- Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
- Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI
- Sheboygan, WI
- Wausau, WI
- Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area
- Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area
- South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area
- Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)3,102 certified, median offer $100,000
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)2,297 certified, median offer $37,440
Top H-1B employers in Wisconsin
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin System | 236 | $75,435 |
| 2 | Milwaukee Board of School Directors | 116 | $54,386 |
| 3 | Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. | 96 | $125,500 |
| 4 | American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. | 87 | $141,227 |
| 5 | Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation | 66 | $114,830 |
| 6 | Infosys Limited | 63 | $69,451 |
| 7 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp | 58 | $86,403 |
| 8 | Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | 55 | $140,000 |
More Wisconsin labor data
- Unemployment by county3.2% statewide
- Jobs by industry3.04 million jobs, +0.4% in a year
- Minimum wage$7.25 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$324 a week on average
- Union membership6.4% in 2025
- Federal job openings184 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Wisconsin?
- The median wage for all occupations in Wisconsin is $50,270 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin's unemployment rate was 3.2% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Wisconsin?
- Cardiologists have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Wisconsin: $636,580 a year.