StateRates

Wausau salaries

The median worker in the Wausau, WI metro area earned $47,970 a year in 2024, about $23.06 an hour. That ranks #141 of the 391 metro areas published here, 3.1% below the national median.

Wisconsin

Median pay $47,970 $23.06 per hour
Vs national -3.1% U.S. $49,500
Workers 70,000 wage and salary
Metro rank #141 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Wausau pays 2% less than Wisconsin as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Food Batchmakers 15.32× 1,190 $46,170
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 4.72× 910 $53,400
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 3.44× 2,270 $45,510
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 3.17× 990 $72,370
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 2.86× 550 $62,380
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 2.18× 590 $48,670
Bartenders 1.9× 640 $22,100
Receptionists and Information Clerks 1.75× 760 $38,600
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 1.68× 970 $65,450
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.46× 1,370 $56,980
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks 1.42× 550 $47,510
Light Truck Drivers 1.37× 620 $45,860

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Wausau
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Financial Managers $134,660 $64.74 300
Sales Managers $125,890 $60.52 200
General and Operations Managers $120,460 $57.92 820
Industrial Production Managers $108,120 $51.98 270
Managers, All Other $104,530 $50.26 270
Software Developers $100,840 $48.48 270
Mechanical Engineers $95,580 $45.95 200
Industrial Engineers $94,570 $45.47 380
Project Management Specialists $87,940 $42.28 410
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $79,070 $38.02 240
Registered Nurses $79,030 $37.99 1,570
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $78,250 $37.62 220
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $78,050 $37.52 410
Electricians $77,910 $37.46 470
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $77,730 $37.37 270
Accountants and Auditors $77,680 $37.34 550
Training and Development Specialists $73,220 $35.20 210
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,370 $34.79 990
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $69,490 $33.41 290
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $66,960 $32.19 210
Human Resources Specialists $66,840 $32.14 350
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $66,290 $31.87 350
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $65,450 $31.47 970
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $63,850 $30.70 580
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $63,270 $30.42 260
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $62,380 $29.99 550
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $62,330 n/a 220
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $62,290 $29.95 260
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $61,370 $29.50 250
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $61,230 n/a 430
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $61,220 $29.44 320
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $59,600 $28.65 420
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $58,700 n/a 550
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $56,980 $27.39 1,370
Computer User Support Specialists $56,490 $27.16 280
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $55,600 $26.73 280
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $55,080 $26.48 280
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $53,400 $25.67 910
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $53,170 $25.56 250
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $53,000 $25.48 800
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $52,750 $25.36 370
Construction Laborers $51,310 $24.67 430
Carpenters $49,230 $23.67 440
Machinists $49,030 $23.57 330
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $48,670 $23.40 590
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,470 $23.31 370
Bus Drivers, School $48,360 $23.25 230
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $47,950 $23.05 710
Dental Assistants $47,710 $22.94 220
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $47,520 $22.84 420
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $47,510 $22.84 550
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $47,390 $22.79 470
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $47,260 $22.72 450
Loan Interviewers and Clerks $46,910 $22.55 210
Billing and Posting Clerks $46,870 $22.54 200
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $46,410 $22.31 300
Medical Assistants $46,390 $22.30 430
Food Batchmakers $46,170 $22.20 1,190
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors $46,160 $22.19 210
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $46,080 $22.15 620

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Wausau by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2,270 $45,510 $21.88
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,830 $43,930 $21.12
Cashiers 1,730 $29,500 $14.18
Retail Salespersons 1,640 $32,350 $15.56
Registered Nurses 1,570 $79,030 $37.99
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,370 $56,980 $27.39
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1,330 $35,360 $17.00
Office Clerks, General 1,270 $41,640 $20.02
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,230 $27,890 $13.41
Customer Service Representatives 1,190 $45,880 $22.06
Food Batchmakers 1,190 $46,170 $22.20
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,040 $34,710 $16.69
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 990 $72,370 $34.79
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 970 $65,450 $31.47
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 910 $53,400 $25.67
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 900 $35,290 $16.97
Waiters and Waitresses 860 $29,010 $13.95
General and Operations Managers 820 $120,460 $57.92
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 800 $53,000 $25.48
Receptionists and Information Clerks 760 $38,600 $18.56

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Wisconsin metro areas

Wausau pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Wausau?

The median across all occupations is $47,970, or $23.06 an hour, covering 70,000 wage and salary workers. The mean is $58,860, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Wausau pay more than the rest of Wisconsin?

No. The metro median of $47,970 is 2% below the Wisconsin median of $48,930. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Wausau?

Financial Managers ($134,660), Sales Managers ($125,890), General and Operations Managers ($120,460). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Wausau unusually full of?

Food Batchmakers, at 15.32× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.