Computer Programmer Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Computer Programmers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $85,280 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,685 take-home, or $5,474 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,932
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,287
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,237
- Wisconsin income tax$3,139
- Take-home pay$65,685
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,910 | $27.36 | $46,184 | $3,849 |
| 25th percentile | $68,040 | $32.71 | $54,471 | $4,539 |
| Median (50th) | $85,280 | $41.00 | $65,685 | $5,474 |
| 75th percentile | $106,280 | $51.10 | $79,346 | $6,612 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,440 | $62.23 | $94,258 | $7,855 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,280 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 computer programmer's $65,685 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,761 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #28 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 28 | Milwaukee, WI | $85,280 | $65,685 | $67,761 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median computer programmer salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $85,280 a year, or about $41.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $68,040 and $106,280.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $85,280 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $65,685 a year ($5,474 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,139 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,761 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #28 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer 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) — 20% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- Computer Network Architect — $134,070
- Software Developer — $123,730
- Data Scientist — $104,710
- Computer Systems Analyst — $102,120
- Information Security Analyst — $101,550
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $97,390
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $90,140
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $83,120
- Operations Research Analyst — $74,850
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,230