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Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a lawyer make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

In the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan area, lawyers earned a median of $131,100 a year ($63.03 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 4,040 of these jobs there. That is 156% above the $51,160 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $78,970 and $436,120; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Wisconsin tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $94,599 in take-home pay.

Lawyer pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI at a glance

Median salary

$131,100$63.03 per hour · $10,925 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$78,970$37.97/hr
25th percentile$98,010$47.12/hr
75th percentile$222,330$106.89/hr
90th percentile$436,120$209.67/hr
Jobs in this metro4,040Location quotient 1.02 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here156% aboveAll-jobs median $51,160
Against Wisconsin3% aboveStatewide median $126,760
Against the U.S.18% belowNational median $159,670

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $130,000 a year leaves after tax in WisconsinFederal tax, FICA and Wisconsin withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$65 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $130,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $130,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Wisconsin publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Wisconsin.

Lawyer salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI after taxes

$131,100
$50,000$265,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$131,100
Net 72%
Fed 15%
WI 5%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$94,599After all taxes
Monthly deposit$7,883Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$3,638Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate27.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$20,198 / yr
Wisconsin state income tax$6,274 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$10,029 / yr
Customize deductions in full Wisconsin calculator

Lawyers pay range in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What lawyers earned in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (WI)
10th percentile$37.97/hr$6,581$78,970$61,206
25th percentile$47.12/hr$8,168$98,010$73,471
MedianMedian$63.03/hr$10,925$131,100$94,599
75th percentile$106.89/hr$18,528$222,330$153,874
90th percentile$209.67/hr$36,343$436,120$275,569

Is $131,100 a good salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for lawyers next to both.

Median household income$78,218Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)96.93.1% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household167.6%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Lawyers pay in other Wisconsin metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Lawyer pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: common questions

What is the median salary for lawyers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

The BLS median annual wage for lawyers in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area was $131,100 in May 2025, about $10,925 a month or $63.03 an hour. Statewide, the Wisconsin median for this job is $126,760, so the metro pays 3% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for lawyers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

The median hourly wage for lawyers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI was $63.03 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $37.97 an hour and one in ten earned more than $209.67.

How many lawyers work in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

BLS estimated 4,040 jobs for lawyers in the metro in May 2025, or 4.9 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.02 means the job is about as common here as in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for lawyers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

BLS wage estimates for lawyers in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI run from $78,970 at the 10th percentile to $98,010 at the 25th, $222,330 at the 75th, and $436,120 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do lawyers take home after taxes in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

On a median gross salary of $131,100, an estimated $94,599 lands in net take-home pay per year ($3,638 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Wisconsin in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $36,501 (an effective rate of 27.8%).

How much do lawyers make per month in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

On the median annual salary of $131,100, gross monthly income is $10,925. After federal, FICA, and Wisconsin state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $7,883 per month (or $3,638 every two weeks).

Is $131,100 a good salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

At $131,100, the median salary for lawyers is 167.6% of the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI median household income ($78,218). It is 156% above the $51,160 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 96.9, so prices here run 3.1% below the U.S. average.