Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Wisconsin make a median of $126,760 a year, or about $60.94 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $362K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $134,379 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 15.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $127K get you in Wisconsin?
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for lawyers in Wisconsin runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 15.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Wisconsin can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $362K or more, a $286K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $131K | +3% | 4,040 |
| Appleton | $126K | -0% | 250 |
| Madison | $124K | -2% | 1,860 |
| Fond du Lac | $122K | -4% | 60 |
| Green Bay | $119K | -6% | 310 |
| Eau Claire | $116K | -8% | 170 |
| Sheboygan | $116K | -9% | 80 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $115K | -9% | 210 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $110K | -13% | 140 |
| Kenosha | $108K | -14% | 120 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $107K | -16% | 160 |
| Wausau | $106K | -16% | 150 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $105K | -17% | 130 |
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 lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 15.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lawyers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,561/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $127K here vs. $160K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for lawyers?
Wisconsin pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $134K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $126,760 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,010, and experienced lawyers can clear $362,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,644/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 15.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers 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 lawyers salary is worth about $134,379 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers 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.