# Wisconsin Job Market: Industries & Salaries (2026) | Jobs Near Me

> Explore the Wisconsin job market. Manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and tech across Milwaukee and Madison with salary data.

Wisconsin is a manufacturing and agricultural powerhouse with a quietly growing tech sector. The state's strong work ethic, quality of life, and affordable living attract both established companies and startups.

## Top Industries

- Manufacturing: Wisconsin is a top-5 manufacturing state. Paper products, machinery, food processing, and medical devices. Oshkosh Corporation, Harley-Davidson, SC Johnson, and Rockwell Automation. 470,000+ manufacturing jobs.

- Healthcare: Ascension Wisconsin, Advocate Aurora Health, Froedtert, and UW Health. Epic Systems (Verona) — the largest electronic health records company — is a major employer and tech anchor. 340,000+ healthcare workers.

- Agriculture & Dairy: Wisconsin is "America's Dairyland" — #1 in cheese production, #2 in dairy. Agriculture contributes $105B annually. Food processing connects farming to manufacturing.

- Insurance: Milwaukee is a major insurance hub. Northwestern Mutual (HQ, 7,000+ employees), Acuity, American Family Insurance (Madison), and CUNA Mutual.

- Technology: Epic Systems (10,000+ employees in Verona) anchors the tech sector. Madison is a growing tech hub with UW-Madison feeding startups. Milwaukee has Rockwell Automation, ManpowerGroup, and fintech growth.

## Major Employers

| Employer | Industry | Approx. WI Employees |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Advocate Aurora Health | Healthcare | 38,000+ |

| State of Wisconsin | Government | 35,000+ |

| Epic Systems | Healthcare IT | 12,000+ |

| Ascension Wisconsin | Healthcare | 22,000+ |

| Northwestern Mutual | Insurance | 7,000+ |

| Oshkosh Corporation | Manufacturing | 8,000+ |

| Walmart | Retail | 28,000+ |

## Average Salary by Metro Area

| Metro Area | Avg Salary | Cost of Living Index |

| --- | --- | --- |

| Milwaukee | $55,870 | 93 |

| Madison | $57,640 | 102 |

| Green Bay | $49,720 | 86 |

| Appleton-Oshkosh | $48,930 | 84 |

| Racine-Kenosha | $50,340 | 90 |

## Growing Sectors

- Healthcare IT: Epic Systems' continued growth and the UW-Madison health innovation ecosystem are creating a healthtech corridor in Dane County.

- Water Technology: Milwaukee's "Water Council" is a global hub for water technology research and startups — the only cluster of its kind.

- Advanced Manufacturing: Robotics and automation are transforming Wisconsin's manufacturing base, creating higher-skilled positions.

## Remote Work Availability

Madison offers strong remote work infrastructure and quality of life. Epic Systems traditionally requires on-campus work, but many other Wisconsin employers have adopted hybrid models. Milwaukee's low cost of living attracts remote workers from Chicago and the coasts.

## FAQ

### What is the minimum wage in Wisconsin?

$7.25/hour (federal floor). Milwaukee and Madison have pushed for higher local minimums but are preempted by state law. Most employers pay $11-15+ entry level.

### Share this article

LinkedIn

X / Twitter

## Related Articles

### Registered Nurse Jobs in Las Vegas, NV — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

7 months ago

### Project Manager Jobs in Boston, MA — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

7 months ago

### Project Manager Jobs in Tampa, FL — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

7 months ago

### More in this category

- Project Manager Jobs in Virginia Beach, VA — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

- Financial Analyst Jobs in Phoenix, AZ — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

- Financial Analyst Jobs in Birmingham, AL — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

- Graphic Designer Jobs in Cincinnati, OH — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

- HR Manager Jobs in Birmingham, AL — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

- Operations Manager Jobs in Providence, RI — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)

- Business Analyst Jobs in Nashville, TN — Salary, Employers & Outlook (2026)