What salary do you need to live in Milwaukee, WI?

For a single person: about $67,500/year before taxes to live comfortably. That's the gross income whose WI-taxed take-home covers roughly $1,338 rent plus everyday essentials, with a 20% cushion for savings. Figures include 2025 federal tax, FICA, and an effective 3.8% Wisconsin income tax.

What jobs here actually pay: the typical Milwaukee worker earns about $51,160/year (BLS OEWS, all occupations) — below the $55,000 a single person needs to cover local essentials, so a median local job alone runs 7% short.