Human Resources Managers Salary
In Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, human resources managers earn $136,530 at the median, or about $65.64 an hour. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $225K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.94), that's roughly $140,840 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,338/month, or 16.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $137K get you in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Milwaukee-Waukesha’s Regional Price Parity (96.94). 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 human resources managers
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What this looks like in Milwaukee-Waukesha
Human resources managers pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha tracks closely to the national median, $137K locally vs. $149K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,338/month, 16.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.94) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for human resources managers in metros near Milwaukee-Waukesha, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | $141K | $145K |
| Green Bay | $135K | $145K |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $132K | $142K |
| Appleton | $127K | $137K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $225K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184K | +23% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +22% | 7,540 |
| New York | $177K | +18% | 17,920 |
| New Jersey | $172K | +16% | 6,400 |
| California | $170K | +14% | 27,450 |
| Rhode Island | $167K | +12% | 530 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 3,620 |
| Virginia | $166K | +11% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $166K | +11% | 3,020 |
| Washington | $166K | +11% | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $154K | +3% | 580 |
| Minnesota | $154K | +3% | 4,370 |
| Maryland | $153K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Illinois | $151K | +1% | 13,520 |
| Georgia | $151K | +1% | 7,270 |
| North Carolina | $143K | -4% | 6,480 |
| Oregon | $141K | -6% | 2,810 |
| Arizona | $140K | -6% | 3,950 |
| North Dakota | $139K | -7% | 290 |
| Michigan | $139K | -7% | 5,890 |
| Florida | $138K | -8% | 11,570 |
| Texas | $137K | -9% | 23,220 |
| New Hampshire | $135K | -10% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $134K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -11% | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -11% | 8,230 |
| Vermont | $132K | -12% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -12% | 4,310 |
| Utah | $131K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Missouri | $131K | -12% | 3,510 |
| Ohio | $130K | -13% | 8,040 |
| Indiana | $130K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 700 |
| Alaska | $130K | -13% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $129K | -13% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $129K | -14% | 710 |
| Nevada | $129K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Wyoming | $128K | -15% | 140 |
| Iowa | $126K | -15% | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $124K | -17% | 2,400 |
| Kentucky | $121K | -19% | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -20% | 510 |
| Idaho | $120K | -20% | 1,040 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -21% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $118K | -21% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | -22% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $115K | -23% | 530 |
| Alabama | $113K | -24% | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -27% | 1,290 |
| Louisiana | $108K | -28% | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -29% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track human resources managers salary changes
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Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 16.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,338/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,806/month. At HUD’s $1,338/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $137K locally vs. $149K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Milwaukee-Waukesha compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Milwaukee-Waukesha pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.94), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — below the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median is $136,530 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,770, and experienced human resources managers can clear $225,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,157/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,338/month, which eats 16.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers salary go in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Milwaukee-Waukesha has a Regional Price Parity of 96.94 (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 human resources managers salary is worth about $140,840 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers 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.