SOC 17-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Engineers — Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 1 metro areas compared
In Wisconsin the median wage is $97,660.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Wisconsin the median wage is $97,660. That is 21.9% lower than the national median of $125,040. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $74,700 and $119,500. The lowest tenth earn under $60,740, while the highest tenth earn more than $131,410.
The area has 110 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.28 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 41 states with published data for this occupation, Wisconsin ranks 39th by median wage. Madison leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $97,190. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 88th of 728 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,740 | −51.4% |
| 25th | $74,700 | −40.3% |
| Median (50th) | $97,660 | −21.9% |
| 75th | $119,500 | −4.4% |
| 90th | $131,410 | +5.1% |
| Mean | $98,440 | −21.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Wisconsin
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | $97,190 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $97,660 goes as far as $103,783 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$97,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$103,783US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $97,660 a year, 21.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,740 to $131,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 39th of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Madison, at $97,190.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Engineers in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage is $97,660, or $46.95 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $125,040, so pay in Wisconsin is 21.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Wisconsin earns more than $131,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,740 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Madison, at $97,190 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Wisconsin. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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