Jobs that actually got a raise in Wisconsin

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Labor Relations Specialists$95,750
Bachelor's degree
$48,440 – $148,030+291.1%+392.5% nominal
2Commercial Pilots$129,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,390 – $269,990+55.9%+96.3% nominal
3Coaches and Scouts$44,800
Bachelor's degree
$28,010 – $76,370+47.1%+85.3% nominal
4Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$45,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,880 – $65,380+40.8%+77.3% nominal
5Correctional Officers and Jailers$73,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,540 – $92,140+34.0%+68.7% nominal
6Tree Trimmers and Pruners$57,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,880 – $77,250+32.9%+67.4% nominal
7Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$69,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $92,150+30.8%+64.7% nominal
8Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$34,670
No formal educational credential
$28,640 – $44,080+27.3%+60.3% nominal
9Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$61,940
Bachelor's degree
$37,950 – $82,350+25.7%+58.3% nominal
10Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $76,750+25.7%+58.2% nominal
11Counter and Rental Clerks$45,720
No formal educational credential
$30,900 – $73,470+24.9%+57.3% nominal
12Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$59,970
No formal educational credential
$38,490 – $85,340+24.3%+56.5% nominal
13Chefs and Head Cooks$61,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,990 – $87,570+24.0%+56.2% nominal
14Food Preparation Workers$34,070
No formal educational credential
$26,080 – $44,290+23.2%+55.1% nominal
15Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$36,550
No formal educational credential
$25,020 – $43,910+22.3%+54.0% nominal
16Amusement and Recreation Attendants$30,180
No formal educational credential
$20,630 – $47,050+21.8%+53.4% nominal
17Waiters and Waitresses$29,670
No formal educational credential
$16,830 – $61,770+20.8%+52.2% nominal
18Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,370 – $67,730+20.8%+52.1% nominal
19Rehabilitation Counselors$46,530
Master's degree
$32,930 – $69,990+20.2%+51.4% nominal
20Dishwashers$29,070
No formal educational credential
$20,190 – $37,830+18.9%+49.7% nominal
21Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,080 – $52,720+18.9%+49.7% nominal
22Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,650 – $38,100+18.5%+49.2% nominal
23Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$62,220
Master's degree
$46,510 – $94,640+18.3%+49.0% nominal
24Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,030 – $42,820+17.5%+48.0% nominal
25Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$43,300
No formal educational credential
$35,890 – $48,490+17.3%+47.7% nominal
26Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$56,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,910 – $66,560+17.1%+47.5% nominal
27Couriers and Messengers$36,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,770 – $45,960+16.9%+47.2% nominal
28Light Truck Drivers$45,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,340 – $72,860+16.4%+46.6% nominal
29Childcare Workers$32,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,650 – $42,830+16.3%+46.4% nominal
30Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,530
No formal educational credential
$29,460 – $43,480+16.2%+46.3% nominal
31Recreation Workers$35,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,440 – $50,980+16.2%+46.3% nominal
32Nursing Assistants$45,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,900 – $50,650+15.7%+45.7% nominal
33Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,700
No formal educational credential
$29,270 – $42,240+15.5%+45.4% nominal
34Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$28,780
No formal educational credential
$22,340 – $36,460+15.2%+45.1% nominal
35Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,390 – $61,040+15.1%+45.0% nominal
36Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$27,080
No formal educational credential
$16,800 – $38,440+14.4%+44.0% nominal
37Food Batchmakers$48,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $58,880+14.3%+44.0% nominal
38Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,430 – $63,220+14.3%+43.9% nominal
39Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28,060
No formal educational credential
$17,830 – $37,440+14.2%+43.8% nominal
40Retail Salespersons$34,480
No formal educational credential
$27,300 – $47,870+13.6%+43.0% nominal
41Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,600
No formal educational credential
$22,240 – $36,090+13.4%+42.8% nominal
42Insurance Underwriters$97,370
Bachelor's degree
$61,410 – $134,090+13.3%+42.7% nominal
43Machinists$59,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,600 – $76,280+12.9%+42.2% nominal
44Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$36,160
Associate's degree
$28,530 – $46,090+12.9%+42.1% nominal
45Sheet Metal Workers$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $107,060+12.5%+41.6% nominal
46Production Workers, All Other$42,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,150 – $59,420+12.2%+41.3% nominal
47Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,520 – $99,850+11.8%+40.8% nominal
48Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$44,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,900 – $61,600+11.7%+40.7% nominal
49Cooks, Restaurant$36,550
No formal educational credential
$28,010 – $46,270+11.5%+40.4% nominal
50Animal Caretakers$30,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,920 – $47,700+11.2%+40.1% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$95,750	$48,440 – $148,030	+291.1%+392.5% nominal
2	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,860	$66,390 – $269,990	+55.9%+96.3% nominal
3	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$44,800	$28,010 – $76,370	+47.1%+85.3% nominal
4	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,960	$24,880 – $65,380	+40.8%+77.3% nominal
5	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,470	$56,540 – $92,140	+34.0%+68.7% nominal
6	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,930	$45,880 – $77,250	+32.9%+67.4% nominal
7	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,020	$37,440 – $92,150	+30.8%+64.7% nominal
8	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$34,670	$28,640 – $44,080	+27.3%+60.3% nominal
9	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,940	$37,950 – $82,350	+25.7%+58.3% nominal
10	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$38,250 – $76,750	+25.7%+58.2% nominal
11	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$45,720	$30,900 – $73,470	+24.9%+57.3% nominal
12	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$38,490 – $85,340	+24.3%+56.5% nominal
13	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,300	$41,990 – $87,570	+24.0%+56.2% nominal
14	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$34,070	$26,080 – $44,290	+23.2%+55.1% nominal
15	Automotive and Watercraft Service AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$36,550	$25,020 – $43,910	+22.3%+54.0% nominal
16	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$30,180	$20,630 – $47,050	+21.8%+53.4% nominal
17	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$29,670	$16,830 – $61,770	+20.8%+52.2% nominal
18	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,640	$44,370 – $67,730	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
19	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$46,530	$32,930 – $69,990	+20.2%+51.4% nominal
20	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,070	$20,190 – $37,830	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
21	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$28,080 – $52,720	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
22	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,360	$29,650 – $38,100	+18.5%+49.2% nominal
23	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$62,220	$46,510 – $94,640	+18.3%+49.0% nominal
24	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,340	$28,030 – $42,820	+17.5%+48.0% nominal
25	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$43,300	$35,890 – $48,490	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
26	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,420	$40,910 – $66,560	+17.1%+47.5% nominal
27	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,910	$29,770 – $45,960	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
28	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,670	$30,340 – $72,860	+16.4%+46.6% nominal
29	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,460	$24,650 – $42,830	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
30	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$35,530	$29,460 – $43,480	+16.2%+46.3% nominal
31	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,530	$26,440 – $50,980	+16.2%+46.3% nominal
32	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,130	$37,900 – $50,650	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
33	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,700	$29,270 – $42,240	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
34	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$28,780	$22,340 – $36,460	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
35	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,790	$38,390 – $61,040	+15.1%+45.0% nominal
36	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$27,080	$16,800 – $38,440	+14.4%+44.0% nominal
37	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,360	$36,990 – $58,880	+14.3%+44.0% nominal
38	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,350	$29,430 – $63,220	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
39	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$28,060	$17,830 – $37,440	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
40	Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$34,480	$27,300 – $47,870	+13.6%+43.0% nominal
41	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,600	$22,240 – $36,090	+13.4%+42.8% nominal
42	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$97,370	$61,410 – $134,090	+13.3%+42.7% nominal
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,110	$40,600 – $76,280	+12.9%+42.2% nominal
44	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$36,160	$28,530 – $46,090	+12.9%+42.1% nominal
45	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$45,160 – $107,060	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
46	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,850	$33,150 – $59,420	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
47	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,930	$44,520 – $99,850	+11.8%+40.8% nominal
48	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,200	$27,900 – $61,600	+11.7%+40.7% nominal
49	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,550	$28,010 – $46,270	+11.5%+40.4% nominal
50	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,160	$23,920 – $47,700	+11.2%+40.1% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Wisconsin

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state