Surgical Technologist Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Surgical Technologists in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $74,830 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,887 take-home, or $4,907 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surgical technologist salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,633
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,639
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,085
- Wisconsin income tax$2,585
- Take-home pay$58,887
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Surgical Technologist pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,290 | $29.47 | $49,511 | $4,126 |
| 25th percentile | $64,270 | $30.90 | $51,774 | $4,315 |
| Median (50th) | $74,830 | $35.98 | $58,887 | $4,907 |
| 75th percentile | $80,600 | $38.75 | $62,641 | $5,220 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,670 | $41.67 | $66,589 | $5,549 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,830 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 surgical technologist's $58,887 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,748 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Surgical Technologist jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for surgical technologists, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #8 of 57 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $106,840 | $76,896 | $69,638 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $79,990 | $65,103 | $63,152 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $99,390 | $72,445 | $62,662 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $77,440 | $59,724 | $62,314 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $73,810 | $60,755 | $61,954 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,200 | $61,030 | $60,899 |
| 7 | Boise City, ID | $76,650 | $59,799 | $60,777 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $74,830 | $58,887 | $60,748 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 57 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical technologist make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median surgical technologist salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $74,830 a year, or about $35.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,270 and $80,600.
What is a surgical technologist’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $74,830 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $58,887 a year ($4,907 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,585 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a surgical technologist?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $64,650. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,748 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #8 of 57 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surgical technologist 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) — 23% of a median surgical technologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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