Construction Laborer Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Construction Laborers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $57,430 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,579 take-home, or $3,882 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,712
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,561
- Medicare (1.45%)$833
- Wisconsin income tax$1,746
- Take-home pay$46,579
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,280 | $18.40 | $32,035 | $2,670 |
| 25th percentile | $46,120 | $22.17 | $37,989 | $3,166 |
| Median (50th) | $57,430 | $27.61 | $46,579 | $3,882 |
| 75th percentile | $78,050 | $37.52 | $60,982 | $5,082 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,510 | $40.15 | $64,534 | $5,378 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,430 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $46,579 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,051 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #7 of 76 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,960 | $59,280 | $53,424 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $60,540 | $49,941 | $52,312 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $57,180 | $47,334 | $50,397 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $68,470 | $53,843 | $48,761 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $72,610 | $56,371 | $48,758 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,430 | $46,579 | $48,051 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $54,930 | $45,588 | $47,801 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 76 metros →
About the job: construction laborers
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers. Construction laborers who primarily assist a particular craft worker are classified under "Helpers, Construction Trades" (47-3010).
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $57,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median construction laborer salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $57,430 a year, or about $27.61 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,120 and $78,050.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $57,430 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $46,579 a year ($3,882 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,746 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,051 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #7 of 76 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $91,760
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $84,700
- Electrician — $77,800
- Carpenter — $63,910