Cost of Living in Wausau, WI
Wausau, WI — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Wausau, WI to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Wausau, WI vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.7 | −7.3% |
| Housing | 71.5 | −28.5% |
| Goods | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 90.0 | −10.0% |
| Other services | 99.4 | −0.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Wausau, WI
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $791 | $31,640/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $889 | $35,560/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,147 | $45,880/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,511 | $60,440/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,519 | $60,760/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Wausau, WI
- Federal income tax$3,675
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,025
- Medicare (1.45%)$707
- Wisconsin income tax$1,366
- Take-home pay$40,017
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Highest-paying jobs in Wausau, WI
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wausau, WI expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Wausau, WI metro area are 92.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 71.5%. It is the #225 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Wausau, WI?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,591 in Wausau, WI (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,790.
How much is rent in Wausau, WI?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Wausau, WI are $791 for a studio, $889 for one bedroom, $1,147 for two bedrooms and $1,511 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Wausau, WI
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $107,550
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $77,680
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $59,500
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,970
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $89,190
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $47,870
- Nursing Assistant — $43,660
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,910
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,000
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,180
- Food Preparation Worker — $31,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,060
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,830
- Bartender — $22,640
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $64,100
- Retail Salesperson — $34,160
- Cashier — $30,480
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $65,230
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $48,880
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $47,850
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,000
- Customer Service Representative — $46,260
- Office Clerks, General — $44,660
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $39,670
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- Electrician — $78,680
- Construction Laborer — $52,620
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $64,040
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $55,650
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $73,790
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $55,780
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $50,250
- Food Batchmaker — $48,560
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $46,030
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,670
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,520
- Light Truck Driver — $45,560
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $43,460
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,440