Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area
Highest-Paying Occupations in Milwaukee Metro
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area
Figures describe the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metropolitan statistical area as defined by BLS/OMB — the whole multi-county metro region, not Milwaukee city limits. Occupations are ranked by published median annual wage; occupations where BLS suppressed the annual median or publishes only hourly wages are not ranked (7 such occupations here).
Top 25 of 593 occupations
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surgeons, All Other | $762,360 | $366.52 | 140 |
| 2 | Physicians, All Other | $411,200 | $197.69 | 2,390 |
| 3 | Psychiatrists | $331,500 | $159.38 | 180 |
| 4 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $300,470 | $144.46 | 170 |
| 5 | Family Medicine Physicians | $287,350 | $138.15 | 390 |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetists | $282,840 | $135.98 | 210 |
| 7 | Pediatricians, General | $276,470 | $132.92 | 60 |
| 8 | Anesthesiologists | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | Not published |
| 9 | Cardiologists | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | 70 |
| 10 | Dermatologists | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | 70 |
| 11 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | 500 |
| 12 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | Not published |
| 13 | Neurologists | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | 40 |
| 14 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | 90 |
| 15 | Chief Executives | $216,240 | $103.96 | Not published |
| 16 | Commercial Pilots | $177,730 | Not published | 420 |
| 17 | Physicists | $173,160 | $83.25 | 50 |
| 18 | Real Estate Brokers | $168,320 | $80.93 | 160 |
| 19 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $161,220 | $77.51 | 2,520 |
| 20 | Financial Managers | $156,100 | $75.05 | 5,160 |
| 21 | Dentists, General | $155,940 | $74.97 | 830 |
| 22 | Pharmacists | $153,340 | $73.72 | 1,760 |
| 23 | Database Architects | $148,020 | $71.16 | 130 |
| 24 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | $144,960 | $69.69 | 50 |
| 25 | Sales Managers | $144,560 | $69.50 | 3,240 |
The full list of every published occupation here is on the Milwaukee metro area overview.
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.