Helpers--Production Workers Salary
In Wisconsin, helpers--production workers earn $45,100 at the median, or about $21.68 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $47,811 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 39.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Wisconsin?
About helpers--production workers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits well above the national pay line for helpers--production workers, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 39.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level helpers--production workers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Production Workers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $50K | +12% | 290 |
| Fond du Lac | $50K | +11% | 60 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $49K | +9% | 90 |
| Wausau | $49K | +8% | 70 |
| Green Bay | $49K | +8% | 260 |
| Sheboygan | $48K | +6% | 100 |
| Madison | $45K | +1% | 130 |
| Eau Claire | $42K | -6% | 60 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $42K | -7% | 80 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $42K | -7% | 580 |
| Appleton | $42K | -7% | 260 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $37K | -18% | 40 |
| Kenosha | $37K | -18% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--production worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 39.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--production workers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--production workers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,080/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--production worker a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $45K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for helpers--production workers?
Wisconsin pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--production workers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $45,100 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,670, and experienced helpers--production workers can clear $61,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,078/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 39.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--production workers salary go in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 helpers--production workers salary is worth about $47,811 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--production workers 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.