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
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 #31 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 31 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,430 | $46,579 | $48,051 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- La Crosse, WI — $58,900
- Appleton, WI — $59,260
- Eau Claire, WI — $58,240
- Janesville, WI — $55,690
- Green Bay, WI — $54,890
- Madison, WI — $57,000
- Wausau, WI — $52,620
- Racine, WI — $54,300
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 #31 of 286 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
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $79,430
- Sheet Metal Worker — $78,840
- Electrician — $77,800
- Construction and Building Inspector — $77,220
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $74,730
- Carpenter — $63,910
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $60,660
- Roofer — $60,140
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $50,620