Highest paying jobs in Appleton, WI
The best paying occupations in the Appleton, WI metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 7.6% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianAppleton, WI | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $406,080 | $233,340 – $593,020 | 160 |
| 2 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $269,690 | $230,060 – $312,490 | — |
| 3 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $206,650 | $122,410 – $293,050 | 130 |
| 4 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $201,300 | $117,710 – $420,840 | 230 |
| 5 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $150,060 | $73,610 – $208,390 | 60 |
| 6 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $149,070 | $99,750 – $216,310 | 230 |
| 7 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $144,630 | $107,810 – $175,340 | 190 |
| 8 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $138,850 | $77,350 – $238,530 | 420 |
| 9 | Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree | $135,690 | $82,400 – $183,720 | 50 |
| 10 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $134,990 | $80,360 – $220,040 | 580 |
| 11 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $134,430 | $97,030 – $201,870 | 200 |
| 12 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $129,410 | $70,720 – $175,890 | 60 |
| 13 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $129,030 | $103,710 – $166,400 | 150 |
| 14 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $128,360 | $79,320 – $212,750 | 160 |
| 15 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $128,270 | $107,340 – $173,160 | 120 |
| 16 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $126,580 | $85,070 – $194,370 | 120 |
| 17 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $126,390 | $76,400 – $384,850 | 250 |
| 18 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $123,490 | $83,710 – $218,450 | 60 |
| 19 | Construction ManagersBachelor's degree | $122,710 | $82,360 – $169,700 | 460 |
| 20 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $122,660 | $81,620 – $208,490 | 170 |
| 21 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree | $118,390 | $84,440 – $131,850 | 170 |
| 22 | Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $117,750 | $75,340 – $205,610 | 60 |
| 23 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $116,570 | $74,860 – $173,260 | 60 |
| 24 | Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree | $110,990 | $87,780 – $147,750 | 40 |
| 25 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $109,890 | $58,740 – $231,420 | 1,640 |
| 26 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $108,680 | $78,210 – $173,270 | 540 |
| 27 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $107,370 | $50,510 – $115,490 | 160 |
| 28 | Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree | $107,170 | $74,320 – $164,250 | 60 |
| 29 | Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree | $106,090 | $72,730 – $150,340 | 60 |
| 30 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $105,800 | $80,980 – $155,680 | 100 |
| 31 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $104,660 | $58,300 – $191,910 | 450 |
| 32 | Data ScientistsBachelor's degree | $103,210 | $76,030 – $151,270 | 90 |
| 33 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $102,970 | $67,410 – $164,080 | 570 |
| 34 | Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $102,070 | $65,990 – $155,010 | 170 |
| 35 | Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree | $101,920 | $78,530 – $121,420 | 180 |
| 36 | Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree | $101,700 | $83,100 – $117,670 | 80 |
| 37 | Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree | $101,670 | $73,270 – $129,940 | 190 |
| 38 | ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree | $101,410 | $69,060 – $223,310 | 60 |
| 39 | Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree | $101,360 | $73,630 – $127,940 | 270 |
| 40 | Management AnalystsBachelor's degree | $99,060 | $62,030 – $159,750 | 300 |
| 41 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $98,970 | $60,870 – $122,220 | 1,060 |
| 42 | Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $98,290 | $60,650 – $130,860 | 970 |
| 43 | Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $97,750 | $49,540 – $152,430 | 120 |
| 44 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $97,020 | $95,300 – $121,430 | 120 |
| 45 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree | $96,900 | $81,200 – $155,550 | 180 |
| 46 | Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $96,680 | $83,100 – $124,130 | 70 |
| 47 | Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree | $96,350 | $80,820 – $101,250 | 240 |
| 48 | Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree | $95,610 | $61,060 – $126,400 | 120 |
| 49 | Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree | $95,380 | $69,380 – $131,130 | 440 |
| 50 | Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $94,530 | $78,840 – $94,530 | 30 |