Highest-paying jobs in Wisconsin
Answer
Emergency Medicine Physicians have the highest median pay in Wisconsin, $239,200+ a year, followed by anesthesiologists ($443,990) and radiologists ($392,610). The median for all jobs in Wisconsin is $50,270, 22nd of the 50 states and DC; adjusted for local prices it ranks 20th.
- Median salary, all jobs
- $50,270
- 22nd of 51 · US $50,980
- Median hourly wage
- $24.17
- US $24.51
- Price level (US = 100)
- 94.1
- Median worth $53,425 at US prices (20th)
- Jobs
- 2,941,540
- 684 occupations published
How these lists work
Occupations with at least 500 jobs in Wisconsin, ranked by median annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates). Typical entry education from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Occupations BLS did not publish for Wisconsin are not listed. Methodology
The 25 highest-paying jobs in Wisconsin
| # | Occupation | Median pay | Hourly median | Jobs | US median | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,200+ | $115.00+ | 1,260 | $335,550 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 2 | Anesthesiologists | $443,990 | $213.46 | 790 | $391,490 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 3 | Radiologists | $392,610 | $188.76 | 980 | $420,860 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 4 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $367,160 | $176.52 | 1,450 | $256,560 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 5 | Psychiatrists | $331,070 | $159.17 | 550 | $281,870 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 6 | Family Medicine Physicians | $290,640 | $139.73 | 1,470 | $244,180 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 7 | Nurse Anesthetists | $273,170 | $131.33 | 990 | $236,590 | Master's degree |
| 8 | Dentists, General | $193,690 | $93.12 | 2,560 | $170,950 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 9 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $160,140 | $76.99 | 8,880 | $175,140 | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Pharmacists | $148,740 | $71.51 | 5,730 | $140,910 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 11 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $142,060 | $68.30 | 4,550 | $171,270 | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Financial Managers | $139,720 | $67.17 | 15,530 | $166,570 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Optometrists | $139,720 | $67.17 | 790 | $136,570 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| 14 | Database Architects | $137,810 | $66.26 | 520 | $139,500 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Sales Managers | $134,870 | $64.84 | 10,480 | $148,270 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Physician Assistants | $133,950 | $64.40 | 3,580 | $135,880 | Master's degree |
| 17 | Marketing Managers | $133,600 | $64.23 | 4,890 | $166,790 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Human Resources Managers | $133,490 | $64.18 | 3,730 | $149,280 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Nurse Practitioners | $131,980 | $63.45 | 5,160 | $132,300 | Master's degree |
| 20 | Computer Network Architects | $131,720 | $63.33 | 2,170 | $134,050 | Bachelor's degree |
| 21 | Actuaries | $131,640 | $63.29 | 890 | $130,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| 22 | Commercial Pilots | $129,860 | — | 1,090 | $123,220 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 23 | Natural Sciences Managers | $128,890 | $61.97 | 1,070 | $167,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 24 | Medical and Health Services Managers | $128,320 | $61.69 | 7,230 | $123,860 | Bachelor's degree |
| 25 | Lawyers | $126,760 | $60.94 | 9,160 | $159,670 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Highest-paying jobs in Wisconsin without a degree
Typical entry education is a high school diploma, no formal credential, some college or a postsecondary certificate.
| # | Occupation | Median pay | Hourly median | Jobs | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $105,820 | $50.88 | 2,520 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $97,120 | $46.69 | 2,080 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 3 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $96,260 | $46.28 | 800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 4 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $95,900 | $46.10 | 5,410 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 5 | Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $92,820 | $44.63 | 710 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 6 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $91,980 | $44.22 | 4,930 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 7 | Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $91,040 | $43.77 | 1,640 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $85,350 | $41.03 | 15,150 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 9 | Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $85,120 | $40.92 | 600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 10 | Millwrights | $82,630 | $39.73 | 1,220 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 11 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $82,570 | $39.70 | 10,640 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 12 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $81,210 | $39.04 | 10,210 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 13 | Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $80,120 | $38.52 | 1,050 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 14 | Insurance Sales Agents | $79,450 | $38.20 | 7,860 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 15 | Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,160 | $37.58 | 8,760 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Most common jobs in Wisconsin
| # | Occupation | Jobs | Median pay | Hourly median | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 82,430 | $36,340 | $17.47 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 2 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 70,520 | $44,610 | $21.45 | No formal educational credential |
| 3 | Registered Nurses | 68,060 | $95,530 | $45.93 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 67,750 | $28,600 | $13.75 | No formal educational credential |
| 5 | Retail Salespersons | 67,640 | $34,480 | $16.58 | No formal educational credential |
| 6 | Cashiers | 65,380 | $30,880 | $14.85 | No formal educational credential |
| 7 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 53,330 | $58,610 | $28.18 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 8 | Office Clerks, General | 51,440 | $44,980 | $21.63 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 9 | Customer Service Representatives | 50,840 | $46,970 | $22.58 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 10 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 47,580 | $35,000 | $16.83 | No formal educational credential |
| 11 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 46,360 | $45,670 | $21.96 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 12 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 45,640 | $37,000 | $17.79 | No formal educational credential |
| 13 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 37,700 | $65,930 | $31.70 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 14 | General and Operations Managers | 36,910 | $118,730 | $57.08 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Waiters and Waitresses | 36,220 | $29,670 | $14.26 | No formal educational credential |
| 16 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 30,880 | $55,810 | $26.83 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 17 | Bartenders | 29,520 | $23,460 | $11.28 | No formal educational credential |
| 18 | Nursing Assistants | 28,370 | $45,130 | $21.70 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| 19 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 28,100 | $47,710 | $22.94 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| 20 | Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 26,520 | $37,800 | — | Some college, no degree |
Jobs concentrated in Wisconsin
Concentration is the location quotient: the occupation’s share of jobs in the state divided by its share nationally. 2.0× means twice as common as in the US overall.
| # | Occupation | Concentration vs. US | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 5.7× | 3,560 | $43,400 |
| 2 | Food Batchmakers | 5.5× | 18,040 | $48,360 |
| 3 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 5.3× | 1,270 | $44,130 |
| 4 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 4.7× | 8,510 | $58,050 |
| 5 | Farm and Home Management Educators | 4.3× | 670 | $60,920 |
| 6 | Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 3.0× | 8,590 | $44,230 |
| 7 | New Accounts Clerks | 3.0× | 2,100 | $48,050 |
| 8 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 3.0× | 1,610 | $67,460 |
| 9 | Printing Press Operators | 3.0× | 8,120 | $47,330 |
| 10 | Foresters | 2.9× | 570 | $66,010 |
| 11 | Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2.8× | 3,570 | $47,330 |
| 12 | Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 2.8× | 3,190 | $50,230 |
What 136 careers pay in Wisconsin
Click a heading to sort
| Cardiologist | $636,580 | 4 | $676,529 | $496,010 | 200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgeon | $572,060 | 3 | $607,960 | $358,550 | 290 |
| Anesthesiologist | $443,990 | 11 | $471,853 | $391,490 | 790 |
| Dermatologist | $440,710 | 6 | $468,367 | $328,730 | 160 |
| Radiologist | $392,610 | 18 | $417,249 | $420,860 | 980 |
| Neurologist | $342,520 | 9 | $364,015 | $248,560 | 130 |
| Psychiatrist | $331,070 | 5 | $351,847 | $281,870 | 550 |
| OB-GYN | $304,990 | 23 | $324,130 | $292,910 | 450 |
| CRNA | $273,170 | 12 | $290,313 | $236,590 | 990 |
| Pediatrician | $269,790 | 5 | $286,721 | $210,040 | 350 |
| Orthodontist | $212,860 | 17 | $226,218 | $289,140 | 90 |
| Dentist | $193,690 | 13 | $205,845 | $170,950 | 2,560 |
| Pharmacist | $148,740 | 10 | $158,074 | $140,910 | 5,730 |
| Optometrist | $139,720 | 19 | $148,488 | $136,570 | 790 |
| Physician Assistant | $133,950 | 29 | $142,356 | $135,880 | 3,580 |
| Marketing Manager | $133,600 | 31 | $141,984 | $166,790 | 4,890 |
| HR Manager | $133,490 | 25 | $141,867 | $149,280 | 3,730 |
| Nurse Midwife | $133,070 | 19 | $141,421 | $134,040 | 200 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,980 | 24 | $140,263 | $132,300 | 5,160 |
| Network Engineer | $131,720 | 22 | $139,986 | $134,050 | 2,170 |
| Actuary | $131,640 | 12 | $139,901 | $130,000 | 890 |
| Commercial Pilot | $129,860 | 15 | $138,009 | $123,220 | 1,090 |
| Healthcare Administrator | $128,320 | 19 | $136,373 | $123,860 | 7,230 |
| Lawyer | $126,760 | 32 | $134,715 | $159,670 | 9,160 |
| Software Engineer | $122,660 | 33 | $130,358 | $135,980 | 21,730 |
| Financial Advisor | $119,430 | 10 | $126,925 | $105,070 | 5,200 |
| Operations Manager | $118,730 | 13 | $126,181 | $105,770 | 36,910 |
| School Principal | $117,010 | 17 | $124,353 | $105,870 | 4,030 |
| Construction Manager | $114,190 | 21 | $121,356 | $114,990 | 6,080 |
| Psychologist | $113,360 | 12 | $120,474 | $100,580 | 1,150 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $110,430 | 11 | $117,360 | $109,370 | 180 |
| Veterinarian | $108,780 | 38 | $115,607 | $130,100 | 1,830 |
| Data Scientist | $106,680 | 21 | $113,375 | $120,230 | 4,370 |
| Lineman | $105,820 | 17 | $112,461 | $95,320 | 2,520 |
| Audiologist | $102,840 | 13 | $109,294 | $95,780 | 280 |
| Ultrasound Technician | $102,090 | 15 | $108,497 | $96,590 | 1,530 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,840 | 19 | $108,231 | $102,760 | 5,580 |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | $101,550 | 39 | $107,923 | $129,180 | 2,130 |
| Electrical Engineer | $99,700 | 44 | $105,957 | $120,630 | 3,550 |
| Business Analyst | $98,780 | 26 | $104,979 | $101,860 | 11,670 |
| Architect | $98,510 | 23 | $104,692 | $99,280 | 1,230 |
| Chemical Engineer | $97,660 | 39 | $103,789 | $125,040 | 110 |
| Project Manager | $97,580 | 29 | $103,704 | $102,320 | 21,610 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,540 | 26 | $102,598 | $98,100 | 5,080 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $95,870 | 44 | $101,886 | $104,110 | 7,470 |
| Financial Analyst | $95,570 | 26 | $101,568 | $102,740 | 5,430 |
| Registered Nurse | $95,530 | 23 | $101,525 | $97,550 | 68,060 |
| Labor and Delivery Nurse (RN data) | $95,530 | 23 | $101,525 | $97,550 | 68,060 |
| NICU Nurse (RN data) | $95,530 | 23 | $101,525 | $97,550 | 68,060 |
| Travel Nurse (RN data) | $95,530 | 23 | $101,525 | $97,550 | 68,060 |
| ICU Nurse (RN data) | $95,530 | 23 | $101,525 | $97,550 | 68,060 |
| Pediatric Nurse (RN data) | $95,530 | 23 | $101,525 | $97,550 | 68,060 |
| UX Designer | $95,340 | 17 | $101,323 | $104,000 | 880 |
| MRI Technician | $94,720 | 24 | $100,664 | $95,480 | 530 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,600 | 42 | $100,537 | $100,840 | 7,410 |
| Radiation Therapist | $93,600 | 39 | $99,474 | $105,310 | 550 |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,390 | 43 | $98,188 | $100,330 | 3,710 |
| Detective | $91,040 | 23 | $96,753 | $93,790 | 1,640 |
| Web Developer | $90,630 | 15 | $96,318 | $92,650 | 1,180 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $88,400 | 41 | $93,948 | $134,960 | 120 |
| Meteorologist | $85,870 | 33 | $91,259 | $99,070 | 280 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $84,210 | 18 | $89,495 | $82,280 | 1,940 |
| Computer Engineer | $83,670 | 39 | $88,921 | $161,740 | 270 |
| Pathologist | $83,610 | 33 | $88,857 | $312,400 | 130 |
| School Psychologist | $83,330 | 27 | $88,559 | $95,990 | 1,180 |
| Chiropractor | $83,020 | 15 | $88,230 | $79,200 | 1,210 |
| Speech-language Pathologist | $83,000 | 39 | $88,209 | $97,870 | 2,940 |
| Plumber | $81,210 | 7 | $86,306 | $63,800 | 10,210 |
| Insurance Agent | $79,450 | 4 | $84,436 | $62,280 | 7,860 |
| Accountant | $79,400 | 24 | $84,383 | $83,680 | 25,100 |
| Radiology Technician | $79,140 | 26 | $84,106 | $80,110 | 5,010 |
| Loan Officer | $78,290 | 23 | $83,203 | $76,690 | 4,940 |
| Claims Adjuster | $78,160 | 21 | $83,065 | $78,000 | 8,760 |
| Police Officer | $78,090 | 18 | $82,991 | $76,210 | 12,320 |
| Elevator Mechanic | $77,640 | 34 | $82,512 | $109,910 | 370 |
| Judge | $76,620 | 37 | $81,428 | $153,990 | 130 |
| Electrician | $76,540 | 13 | $81,343 | $63,190 | 14,310 |
| Nutritionist | $74,930 | 19 | $79,632 | $76,400 | 1,330 |
| Cardiovascular Technologist | $74,380 | 31 | $79,048 | $74,310 | 900 |
| Surgical Technician | $74,120 | 16 | $78,771 | $64,650 | 2,180 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | $73,930 | 37 | $78,570 | $79,870 | 1,270 |
| Correctional Officer | $73,470 | 9 | $78,081 | $58,940 | 7,360 |
| Forensic Scientist | $72,280 | 14 | $76,816 | $72,060 | 310 |
| HR Specialist | $70,540 | 28 | $74,967 | $75,940 | 17,360 |
| Marine Biologist (Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist data) | $68,370 | 34 | $72,661 | $76,780 | 360 |
| Crane Operator | $67,720 | 23 | $71,970 | $68,080 | 440 |
| Librarian | $66,870 | 21 | $71,066 | $68,270 | 2,450 |
| Court Reporter | $65,640 | 21 | $69,759 | $72,420 | 60 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $64,080 | 31 | $68,101 | $68,380 | 1,650 |
| LPN | $63,760 | 26 | $67,761 | $64,400 | 7,390 |
| TSA Officer | $63,130 | 34 | $67,092 | $66,770 | 540 |
| High School Teacher | $62,870 | 30 | $66,815 | $72,040 | 15,910 |
| Interior Designer | $62,740 | 27 | $66,677 | $67,190 | 1,200 |
| School Counselor | $62,690 | 24 | $66,624 | $64,330 | 5,330 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $62,450 | 21 | $66,369 | $61,770 | 6,750 |
| Mental Health Counselor | $62,220 | 16 | $66,125 | $59,350 | 8,340 |
| Athletic Trainer | $61,820 | 24 | $65,700 | $62,520 | 620 |
| HVAC Technician | $61,710 | 23 | $65,583 | $61,010 | 6,630 |
| Carpenter | $61,660 | 20 | $65,530 | $60,580 | 13,880 |
| Chef | $61,300 | 28 | $65,147 | $62,470 | 1,860 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $61,210 | 32 | $65,051 | $63,970 | 24,920 |
| Medical Lab Technician | $60,670 | 33 | $64,477 | $62,930 | 8,480 |
| Medical Billing and Coding Specialist | $60,280 | 11 | $64,063 | $51,140 | 2,870 |
| Graphic Designer | $59,900 | 27 | $63,659 | $62,960 | 4,130 |
| Mail Carrier | $59,880 | 34 | $63,638 | $60,550 | 6,470 |
| Garbage Collector | $59,810 | 10 | $63,563 | $49,690 | 1,550 |
| Paramedic | $59,710 | 29 | $63,457 | $60,600 | 1,990 |
| Train Conductor | $59,690 | 30 | $63,436 | $78,000 | 630 |
| IT Support Specialist | $58,810 | 32 | $62,501 | $61,860 | 12,400 |
| Truck Driver | $58,610 | 29 | $62,288 | $58,640 | 53,330 |
| Paralegal | $58,500 | 37 | $62,171 | $62,890 | 4,780 |
| Welder | $58,410 | 22 | $62,076 | $53,750 | 15,320 |
| Mortician | $58,250 | 20 | $61,906 | $55,010 | 580 |
| Real Estate Agent | $58,120 | 20 | $61,767 | $52,830 | 5,680 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,070 | 29 | $61,714 | $58,450 | 1,520 |
| Construction Worker | $56,100 | 12 | $59,621 | $47,120 | 20,330 |
| Auto Mechanic | $54,350 | 17 | $57,761 | $50,620 | 12,270 |
| Bus Driver | $52,660 | 25 | $55,965 | $59,050 | 2,220 |
| Medical Assistant | $48,680 | 8 | $51,735 | $45,690 | 13,810 |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $47,570 | 22 | $50,555 | $47,700 | 1,380 |
| Dental Assistant | $47,520 | 30 | $50,502 | $48,070 | 7,760 |
| Vet Tech | $47,020 | 24 | $49,971 | $47,380 | 2,590 |
| Firefighter | $46,850 | 37 | $49,790 | $59,280 | 8,120 |
| Phlebotomist | $46,470 | 13 | $49,386 | $45,230 | 3,610 |
| Esthetician | $46,220 | 18 | $49,121 | $45,330 | 1,190 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $45,970 | 25 | $48,855 | $45,750 | 9,540 |
| CNA | $45,130 | 19 | $47,962 | $42,260 | 28,370 |
| Personal Trainer | $44,200 | 32 | $46,974 | $47,160 | 6,330 |
| Substitute Teacher | $43,950 | 12 | $46,708 | $41,670 | 8,420 |
| EMT | $43,060 | 24 | $45,762 | $44,470 | 3,930 |
| Private Investigator | $41,850 | 43 | $44,476 | $51,220 | 410 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $37,870 | 45 | $40,247 | $66,940 | 180 |
| Nail Technician | $36,680 | 19 | $38,982 | $35,760 | 2,350 |
| Barber | $36,540 | 20 | $38,833 | $38,210 | 450 |
| Cosmetologist | $36,230 | 19 | $38,504 | $35,790 | 6,260 |
| Bartender | $23,460 | 44 | $24,932 | $34,340 | 29,520 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates; adjusted with BEA regional price parities (2024). Rank among states: 1 = highest median of the states with published data.