Tax Preparer Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Tax Preparers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $50,430 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,263 take-home, or $3,439 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tax preparer salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,872
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,127
- Medicare (1.45%)$731
- Wisconsin income tax$1,438
- Take-home pay$41,263
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Tax Preparer pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,680 | $17.63 | $30,819 | $2,568 |
| 25th percentile | $37,570 | $18.06 | $31,495 | $2,625 |
| Median (50th) | $50,430 | $24.25 | $41,263 | $3,439 |
| 75th percentile | $59,490 | $28.60 | $48,144 | $4,012 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,130 | $35.16 | $57,782 | $4,815 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,430 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 tax preparer's $41,263 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,566 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tax Preparer jobs are about as common in Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for tax preparers, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #18 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $78,920 | $61,578 | $66,540 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $81,180 | $61,565 | $55,753 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,240 | $63,393 | $54,832 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,920 | $53,863 | $53,399 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,170 | $50,527 | $50,418 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $71,300 | $55,736 | $49,516 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $65,150 | $52,370 | $49,507 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $70,170 | $54,881 | $49,050 |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,430 | $41,263 | $42,566 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median tax preparer salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $50,430 a year, or about $24.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,570 and $59,490.
What is a tax preparer’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $50,430 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $41,263 a year ($3,439 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,438 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a tax preparer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $54,920. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,566 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #18 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tax preparer 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) — 33% of a median tax preparer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
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