Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Wausau, WI make a median of $73,250 a year, or about $35.21 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.65), which stretches that salary to about $79,061 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,147/month, or 23.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Wausau?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wausau’s Regional Price Parity (92.65). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Wausau
Pay for computer programmers in Wausau runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,147/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.65 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Wausau can be a reasonable trade-off for computer programmerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer programmers in metros near Wausau, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $85K | $88K |
| Madison | $97K | $100K |
| Kenosha | $85K | $84K |
| Green Bay | $81K | $88K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wausau, WI
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Programmers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $134K | +33% | 1,650 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +28% | 1,930 |
| Washington | $126K | +25% | 2,540 |
| Maryland | $126K | +25% | 2,490 |
| Virginia | $122K | +21% | 3,070 |
| Hawaii | $118K | +18% | 450 |
| California | $117K | +16% | 11,340 |
| Arkansas | $112K | +11% | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +7% | 2,070 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +5% | 3,930 |
| Utah | $105K | +4% | 690 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 930 |
| New York | $104K | +4% | 7,020 |
| Maine | $102K | +1% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $100K | -1% | 990 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -1% | 790 |
| Oregon | $100K | -1% | 1,370 |
| Texas | $99K | -1% | 7,620 |
| Georgia | $98K | -2% | 1,890 |
| Indiana | $97K | -3% | 1,520 |
| Rhode Island | $96K | -4% | 250 |
| Nebraska | $95K | -5% | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $95K | -6% | 950 |
| Alabama | $94K | -7% | 890 |
| Nevada | $94K | -7% | 840 |
| Florida | $93K | -7% | 4,760 |
| Kansas | $93K | -7% | 460 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 190 |
| Alaska | $92K | -9% | 530 |
| Missouri | $90K | -10% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $90K | -10% | N/A |
| Vermont | $90K | -11% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $89K | -11% | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $89K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $89K | -11% | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $85K | -15% | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $85K | -15% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -17% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -19% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 4,120 |
| Iowa | $79K | -21% | 950 |
| New Hampshire | $74K | -26% | N/A |
| Illinois | $73K | -28% | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $66K | -34% | 4,400 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -35% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -42% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer programmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wausau numbers change.
Related careers in Technology
Frequently asked questions
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wausau?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 24.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,147/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Wausau?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,389/month. At HUD’s $1,147/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Wausau?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $73K here vs. $100K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wausau compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Wausau pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Wausau, WI?
The median is $73,250 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,480, and experienced computer programmers can clear $121,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Wausau?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,757/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,147/month, which eats 24.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Wausau?
Wausau has a Regional Price Parity of 92.65 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $79,061 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.