Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Wisconsin

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Psychologists, All Other$81,860
Master's degree
$55,160 – $154,260-27.9%-9.2% nominal
2Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$76,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,230 – $109,550-27.6%-8.8% nominal
3Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$47,210
Associate's degree
$35,360 – $60,550-27.1%-8.2% nominal
4Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-22.8%-2.8% nominal
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$95,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,410 – $176,090-21.6%-1.2% nominal
6Information and Record Clerks, All Other$32,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,320 – $60,320-19.7%+1.1% nominal
7Tax Preparers$44,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,920 – $73,130-18.8%+2.3% nominal
8Driver/Sales Workers$27,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,860 – $57,850-17.0%+4.6% nominal
9Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$59,350
Bachelor's degree
$39,990 – $79,340-17.0%+4.5% nominal
10Dentists, General$193,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$121,780 – $306,370-16.9%+4.6% nominal
11Operations Research Analysts$71,820
Bachelor's degree
$50,380 – $102,090-16.7%+4.9% nominal
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$91,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,440 – $159,770-16.4%+5.2% nominal
13Construction Managers$114,190
Bachelor's degree
$76,990 – $169,700-16.2%+5.5% nominal
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$78,480
Bachelor's degree
$49,900 – $160,430-15.5%+6.4% nominal
15Sales Managers$134,870
Bachelor's degree
$76,330 – $222,110-15.2%+6.7% nominal
16Self-Enrichment Teachers$37,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,310 – $69,990-14.5%+7.7% nominal
17Chemists$78,730
Bachelor's degree
$52,020 – $109,450-14.5%+7.7% nominal
18Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$61,210
Bachelor's degree
$48,610 – $84,470-14.4%+7.8% nominal
19General and Operations Managers$118,730
Bachelor's degree
$59,540 – $247,560-14.1%+8.1% nominal
20Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,960
Bachelor's degree
$47,870 – $79,990-14.0%+8.3% nominal
21Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,870
Bachelor's degree
$48,550 – $83,340-13.8%+8.5% nominal
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,060 – $130,510-13.5%+8.9% nominal
23Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$52,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,740 – $63,810-13.3%+9.2% nominal
24Pharmacists$148,740
Doctoral or professional degree
$112,020 – $178,090-12.7%+9.9% nominal
25First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,250 – $125,950-12.6%+10.1% nominal
26Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$79,120
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,730 – $115,380-12.5%+10.2% nominal
27Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$82,620
Bachelor's degree
$49,470 – $123,850-11.7%+11.2% nominal
28Biological Technicians$51,750
Bachelor's degree
$40,330 – $73,570-11.7%+11.2% nominal
29Financial Managers$139,720
Bachelor's degree
$83,100 – $236,620-11.6%+11.3% nominal
30Credit Analysts$68,690
Bachelor's degree
$50,780 – $126,640-11.5%+11.5% nominal
31Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$81,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,130 – $177,000-11.2%+11.8% nominal
32Business Teachers, Postsecondary$96,680
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,080 – $173,020-11.0%+12.1% nominal
33First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$83,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,060 – $119,230-10.8%+12.3% nominal
34Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$61,520
Bachelor's degree
$47,940 – $79,210-10.7%+12.5% nominal
35Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$84,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,760 – $114,440-9.9%+13.5% nominal
36Bartenders$23,460
No formal educational credential
$17,200 – $39,040-9.9%+13.4% nominal
37Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$58,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,110 – $73,870-9.8%+13.6% nominal
38Psychiatric Technicians$40,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,560 – $84,760-9.8%+13.5% nominal
39Electrical Engineers$99,700
Bachelor's degree
$74,850 – $132,990-9.7%+13.7% nominal
40Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$51,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,120 – $74,290-9.5%+14.0% nominal
41Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,370 – $100,140-9.3%+14.2% nominal
42Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$78,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,550 – $177,920-9.1%+14.5% nominal
43Public Relations Specialists$67,240
Bachelor's degree
$44,790 – $105,970-9.1%+14.5% nominal
44Painters, Construction and Maintenance$50,090
No formal educational credential
$37,870 – $75,040-9.0%+14.6% nominal
45Manicurists and Pedicurists$36,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,950 – $54,400-8.9%+14.7% nominal
46Marketing Managers$133,600
Bachelor's degree
$83,990 – $211,990-8.9%+14.7% nominal
47Detectives and Criminal Investigators$91,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,060 – $103,130-8.7%+14.9% nominal
48Architectural and Engineering Managers$142,060
Bachelor's degree
$103,720 – $207,680-8.6%+15.1% nominal
49Physician Assistants$133,950
Master's degree
$102,420 – $169,150-8.6%+15.1% nominal
50Speech-Language Pathologists$83,000
Master's degree
$61,320 – $108,360-8.6%+15.1% 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	Psychologists, All OtherMaster's degree	$81,860	$55,160 – $154,260	-27.9%-9.2% nominal
2	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,540	$58,230 – $109,550	-27.6%-8.8% nominal
3	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$47,210	$35,360 – $60,550	-27.1%-8.2% nominal
4	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$47,440 – $75,280	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,900	$57,410 – $176,090	-21.6%-1.2% nominal
6	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,470	$21,320 – $60,320	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
7	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,340	$34,920 – $73,130	-18.8%+2.3% nominal
8	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,560	$20,860 – $57,850	-17.0%+4.6% nominal
9	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$59,350	$39,990 – $79,340	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
10	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$193,690	$121,780 – $306,370	-16.9%+4.6% nominal
11	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$71,820	$50,380 – $102,090	-16.7%+4.9% nominal
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,980	$60,440 – $159,770	-16.4%+5.2% nominal
13	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$114,190	$76,990 – $169,700	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$78,480	$49,900 – $160,430	-15.5%+6.4% nominal
15	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$134,870	$76,330 – $222,110	-15.2%+6.7% nominal
16	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,820	$26,310 – $69,990	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
17	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$78,730	$52,020 – $109,450	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
18	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$61,210	$48,610 – $84,470	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
19	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$118,730	$59,540 – $247,560	-14.1%+8.1% nominal
20	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,960	$47,870 – $79,990	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
21	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$62,870	$48,550 – $83,340	-13.8%+8.5% nominal
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,930	$39,060 – $130,510	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
23	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,660	$43,740 – $63,810	-13.3%+9.2% nominal
24	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$148,740	$112,020 – $178,090	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
25	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,120	$77,250 – $125,950	-12.6%+10.1% nominal
26	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$79,120	$47,730 – $115,380	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
27	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$82,620	$49,470 – $123,850	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
28	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$51,750	$40,330 – $73,570	-11.7%+11.2% nominal
29	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$139,720	$83,100 – $236,620	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
30	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$68,690	$50,780 – $126,640	-11.5%+11.5% nominal
31	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,500	$63,130 – $177,000	-11.2%+11.8% nominal
32	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$96,680	$57,080 – $173,020	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
33	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,310	$55,060 – $119,230	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
34	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$61,520	$47,940 – $79,210	-10.7%+12.5% nominal
35	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,700	$53,760 – $114,440	-9.9%+13.5% nominal
36	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$23,460	$17,200 – $39,040	-9.9%+13.4% nominal
37	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,280	$49,110 – $73,870	-9.8%+13.6% nominal
38	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,290	$32,560 – $84,760	-9.8%+13.5% nominal
39	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,700	$74,850 – $132,990	-9.7%+13.7% nominal
40	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,480	$45,120 – $74,290	-9.5%+14.0% nominal
41	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$51,370 – $100,140	-9.3%+14.2% nominal
42	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,920	$60,550 – $177,920	-9.1%+14.5% nominal
43	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$67,240	$44,790 – $105,970	-9.1%+14.5% nominal
44	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$50,090	$37,870 – $75,040	-9.0%+14.6% nominal
45	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36,680	$20,950 – $54,400	-8.9%+14.7% nominal
46	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,600	$83,990 – $211,990	-8.9%+14.7% nominal
47	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,040	$70,060 – $103,130	-8.7%+14.9% nominal
48	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$142,060	$103,720 – $207,680	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
49	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$133,950	$102,420 – $169,150	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
50	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$83,000	$61,320 – $108,360	-8.6%+15.1% 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 lost the most to inflation in Wisconsin

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state