High paying entry level jobs in Wisconsin

These occupations in Wisconsin ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average (2024), so a Wisconsin salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Wisconsin.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Wisconsin

OccupationMedian, Wisconsin · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$273,170
Master's degree
$223,690 – $320,630990
2Dentists, General$193,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$121,780 – $306,3702,560
3Pharmacists$148,740
Doctoral or professional degree
$112,020 – $178,0905,730
4Physician Assistants$133,950
Master's degree
$102,420 – $169,1503,580
5Nurse Practitioners$131,980
Master's degree
$106,320 – $166,2605,160
6Lawyers$126,760
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,010 – $362,0409,160
7Software Developers$122,660
Bachelor's degree
$77,710 – $168,63021,730
8Veterinarians$108,780
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,350 – $159,9401,830
9Data Scientists$106,680
Bachelor's degree
$76,300 – $168,8104,370
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$102,090
Associate's degree
$82,430 – $124,4501,530
11Physical Therapists$101,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,740 – $124,6405,580
12Computer Systems Analysts$100,440
Bachelor's degree
$66,700 – $132,2708,340
13Database Administrators$100,020
Bachelor's degree
$62,440 – $149,4301,220
14Electrical Engineers$99,700
Bachelor's degree
$74,850 – $132,9903,550
15Project Management Specialists$97,580
Bachelor's degree
$60,840 – $139,14021,610
16Industrial Engineers$96,980
Bachelor's degree
$71,800 – $134,03013,070
17Business Teachers, Postsecondary$96,680
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,080 – $173,0201,940
18Dental Hygienists$96,540
Associate's degree
$80,370 – $110,2405,080
19Mechanical Engineers$95,870
Bachelor's degree
$64,850 – $130,3607,470
20Financial and Investment Analysts$95,570
Bachelor's degree
$61,900 – $152,4605,430
21Registered Nurses$95,530
Bachelor's degree
$77,470 – $119,86068,060
22Civil Engineers$94,600
Bachelor's degree
$67,590 – $131,0407,410
23Occupational Therapists$92,390
Master's degree
$73,610 – $110,9503,710
24Web Developers$90,630
Bachelor's degree
$51,480 – $125,9401,180
25Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$89,400
Bachelor's degree
$62,460 – $161,5003,800
26Computer Occupations, All Other$88,130
Bachelor's degree
$52,640 – $133,4504,680
27Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$84,750
Bachelor's degree
$61,680 – $128,4302,250
28Urban and Regional Planners$84,290
Master's degree
$50,230 – $116,2401,100
29Respiratory Therapists$84,210
Associate's degree
$70,520 – $100,3201,940
30Network and Computer Systems Administrators$83,650
Bachelor's degree
$58,950 – $128,5808,470
31Chiropractors$83,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,740 – $166,5201,210
32Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$82,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,850 – $128,6802,970
33Conservation Scientists$79,540
Bachelor's degree
$47,440 – $102,750970
34Accountants and Auditors$79,400
Bachelor's degree
$58,340 – $127,80025,100
35Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,140
Associate's degree
$61,870 – $99,4205,010
36Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$79,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,730 – $115,3801,280
37Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$78,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,550 – $177,920950
38Chemists$78,730
Bachelor's degree
$52,020 – $109,4501,920
39Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$77,560
Master's degree
$51,280 – $99,5301,840
40Surgical Technologists$74,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,410 – $86,6702,180
41Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,970
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $94,3201,560
42Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,520 – $99,8501,270
43Logisticians$73,180
Bachelor's degree
$52,620 – $118,7105,140
44Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,880
Associate's degree
$49,470 – $102,3501,520
45Operations Research Analysts$71,820
Bachelor's degree
$50,380 – $102,0904,270
46Human Resources Specialists$70,540
Bachelor's degree
$47,860 – $105,27017,360
47Credit Analysts$68,690
Bachelor's degree
$50,780 – $126,6401,770
48Business Operations Specialists, All Other$67,370
Bachelor's degree
$33,280 – $108,15012,210
49Public Relations Specialists$67,240
Bachelor's degree
$44,790 – $105,9704,410
50Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$66,870
Master's degree
$46,350 – $85,9702,450

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianWisconsin	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$273,170	$223,690 – $320,630	990
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$193,690	$121,780 – $306,370	2,560
3	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$148,740	$112,020 – $178,090	5,730
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$133,950	$102,420 – $169,150	3,580
5	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$131,980	$106,320 – $166,260	5,160
6	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$126,760	$76,010 – $362,040	9,160
7	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$122,660	$77,710 – $168,630	21,730
8	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$108,780	$79,350 – $159,940	1,830
9	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$106,680	$76,300 – $168,810	4,370
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$102,090	$82,430 – $124,450	1,530
11	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,840	$80,740 – $124,640	5,580
12	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$100,440	$66,700 – $132,270	8,340
13	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$100,020	$62,440 – $149,430	1,220
14	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,700	$74,850 – $132,990	3,550
15	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$97,580	$60,840 – $139,140	21,610
16	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,980	$71,800 – $134,030	13,070
17	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$96,680	$57,080 – $173,020	1,940
18	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,540	$80,370 – $110,240	5,080
19	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$95,870	$64,850 – $130,360	7,470
20	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,570	$61,900 – $152,460	5,430
21	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$95,530	$77,470 – $119,860	68,060
22	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$94,600	$67,590 – $131,040	7,410
23	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$92,390	$73,610 – $110,950	3,710
24	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$90,630	$51,480 – $125,940	1,180
25	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$89,400	$62,460 – $161,500	3,800
26	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$88,130	$52,640 – $133,450	4,680
27	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$84,750	$61,680 – $128,430	2,250
28	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$84,290	$50,230 – $116,240	1,100
29	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,210	$70,520 – $100,320	1,940
30	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$83,650	$58,950 – $128,580	8,470
31	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$83,020	$57,740 – $166,520	1,210
32	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$82,530	$62,850 – $128,680	2,970
33	Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree	$79,540	$47,440 – $102,750	970
34	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$79,400	$58,340 – $127,800	25,100
35	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,140	$61,870 – $99,420	5,010
36	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$79,120	$47,730 – $115,380	1,280
37	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,920	$60,550 – $177,920	950
38	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$78,730	$52,020 – $109,450	1,920
39	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$77,560	$51,280 – $99,530	1,840
40	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,120	$59,410 – $86,670	2,180
41	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,970	$48,640 – $94,320	1,560
42	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,930	$44,520 – $99,850	1,270
43	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$73,180	$52,620 – $118,710	5,140
44	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,880	$49,470 – $102,350	1,520
45	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$71,820	$50,380 – $102,090	4,270
46	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$70,540	$47,860 – $105,270	17,360
47	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$68,690	$50,780 – $126,640	1,770
48	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$67,370	$33,280 – $108,150	12,210
49	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$67,240	$44,790 – $105,970	4,410
50	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$66,870	$46,350 – $85,970	2,450

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Wisconsin. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Wisconsin to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Wisconsin

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state