SOC 53-7062 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — Milwaukee
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Milwaukee, WI comes to $44,840 a year, ahead of the national median of $40,240 by 11.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Milwaukee, WI comes to $44,840 a year, ahead of the national median of $40,240 by 11.4%. Pay ranges from under $34,840 at the tenth percentile to more than $57,530 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $38,070 to $48,210.
Employment stands at 19,810, or 24.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Sheboygan records the highest median at $48,150. Of the 593 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 487th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,840 | −13.4% |
| 25th | $38,070 | −5.4% |
| Median (50th) | $44,840 | +11.4% |
| 75th | $48,210 | +19.8% |
| 90th | $57,530 | +43.0% |
| Mean | $44,730 | +11.2% |
Other metro areas in Wisconsin
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheboygan | $48,150 | 1,550 | |
| 2 | Kenosha | $46,990 | 5,420 | |
| 3 | Fond du Lac | $46,140 | 990 | |
| 4 | Oshkosh | $45,970 | 2,080 | |
| 5 | Racine | $45,430 | 2,190 | |
| 6 | Eau Claire | $45,320 | 2,160 | |
| 7 | Janesville | $44,590 | 2,000 | |
| 8 | Madison | $44,190 | 7,130 | |
| 9 | Green Bay | $44,010 | 3,650 | |
| 10 | Appleton | $43,610 | 2,610 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Milwaukee run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $44,840 goes as far as $47,651 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,651US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,840 a year, 11.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,840 to $57,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 19,810 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sheboygan, at $48,150.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in Milwaukee, WI?
The median annual wage is $44,840, or $21.56 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 $40,240, so pay in Milwaukee, WI is 11.4% higher. 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 Milwaukee, WI earns more than $57,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,840 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 Sheboygan, at $48,150 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 19,810 jobs in this occupation in Milwaukee, WI. 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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