Career Atlas USA

Careers in Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s regional price level is below the national average (index 94.095, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 3.4% · Labor force participation: 65.6% · 3,083,633 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Cardiologists$636,580
  2. 2Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$572,060
  3. 3Anesthesiologists$443,990
  4. 4Dermatologists$440,710
  5. 5Surgeons, All Other$416,000

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Home Health and Personal Care Aides82,430 employed
  2. 2Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand70,520 employed
  3. 3Registered Nurses68,060 employed
  4. 4Fast Food and Counter Workers67,750 employed
  5. 5Retail Salespersons67,640 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic8.42× national avg
  2. 2Print Binding and Finishing Workers5.67× national avg
  3. 3Food Batchmakers5.46× national avg
  4. 4Foundry Mold and Coremakers5.27× national avg
  5. 5Animal Scientists4.75× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Cardiologists$676,529
  2. 2Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$607,960
  3. 3Anesthesiologists$471,853
  4. 4Dermatologists$468,367
  5. 5Surgeons, All Other$442,106

Strongest Opportunity Score

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  1. 1Food Batchmakers97.6 / 100
  2. 2Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders96.2 / 100
  3. 3Printing Press Operators95.1 / 100
  4. 4Receptionists and Information Clerks92.7 / 100
  5. 5Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers91.8 / 100

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.