Human Resources Manager Salary in Milwaukee, WI

Human Resources Managers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $136,530 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,729 take-home, or $8,227 a month.

Median salary
$136,530
$65.64 per hour
Typical range
$96,770 – $225,010
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Milwaukee, WI
1,190
1.02× national concentration

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median human resources manager salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Human Resources Manager in Milwaukee, WI
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$98,729
per year · effective tax rate 27.7%
$8,227Monthly
$4,114Twice a month
$3,797Every 2 weeks
$47.47Hourly
  • Federal income tax$21,501
  • Social Security (6.2%)$8,465
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,980
  • Wisconsin income tax$5,856
  • Take-home pay$98,729

Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.30% state

Human Resources Manager pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$96,770$46.52$73,159$6,097
25th percentile$108,790$52.30$80,978$6,748
Median (50th)$136,530$65.64$98,729$8,227
75th percentile$172,250$82.81$121,250$10,104
90th percentile (top earners)$225,010$108.18$156,231$13,019

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $136,530 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 human resources manager's $98,729 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,848 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,119
14% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,338
16% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$7,108
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Human Resources Manager jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).

Best-paying cities for human resources managers, adjusted for cost of living

Milwaukee, WI ranks #48 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1San Jose, CA $220,460$144,650$130,996
2Bridgeport, CT $191,190$133,038$124,493
3San Francisco, CA $209,340$137,845$119,230
4Boston, MA $184,990$128,708$118,881
5Durham, NC $160,580$115,124$117,989
6Charlotte, NC $158,930$114,062$117,169
7Seattle, WA $171,360$128,391$115,529
8Memphis, TN $138,560$105,972$114,963
48Milwaukee, WI$136,530$98,729$101,848

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →

Human Resources Manager salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin

Frequently asked questions

How much does a human resources manager make in Milwaukee, WI?

The median human resources manager salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $136,530 a year, or about $65.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $108,790 and $172,250.

What is a human resources manager’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?

On the median $136,530 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $98,729 a year ($8,227 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,856 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.

Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a human resources manager?

Pay here is 9% below the national median of $149,280. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,848 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #48 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a human resources manager 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) — 14% of a median human resources manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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Cost of living & all salaries in Milwaukee, WI →