Milwaukee Employment

Employment and Industries in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Area

Historically known as a beer town because of the location of four of the world's largest breweries within the city (Schlitz, Blatz, Pabst, and Miller, of which only Miller remains in Milwaukee), Milwaukee is a major manufacturing community with over 20% of the population engaged in manufacturing occupations (well above the national average). Major industry segments in Milwaukee include:

  • Healthcare
  • Financial services
  • High technology
  • Manufacturing
  • Printing and publishing
  • Services
  • Tourism

The Milwaukee area is home to ten Fortune 1000 companies. The largest company in the area is Johnson Controls. The most famous is the motorcycle company Harley Davidson. Fortune 1000 companies in the Milwaukee metropolitan area include:

  • A.O. Smith
  • Harley-Davidson
  • Johnson Controls
  • Joy Global
  • Manpower
  • Marshall & Ilsley Corp.
  • MGIC Investment
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Rockwell Automation
  • Wisconsin Energy

Other significant companies in the Milwaukee area include:

  • Briggs & Stratton
  • Kohl's
  • Koss Corporation
  • Master Lock
  • Metavante
  • Quad/Graphics
  • Roundy's Supermarkets

Business awards awarded to the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area include:

  • The Milwaukee area was ranked 18th among the top fifty "Hot Cities for Entrepreneurs" among large cities and metropolitan areas in the U.S. according to a 2005 Entrepreneur magazine survey.
  • The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area ranked 52nd among large U.S. Cities on Inc. magazine's 2006 survey of the "Best Cities for Doing Business" (out of 393 metropolitan areas across the United States). The Milwaukee area ranked in the top ten for "Most Balanced Economy and Growth" in the 2004 and 2005 editions of the survey.
  • In 2006, SustainLane ranked Milwaukee 16th among fifty major U.S. cities for sustainable services and economics.

For the business commuter, the Milwaukee area is served by four interstate highways, three US highways, the Milwaukee County Transit System, and the Hiawatha Amtrak express service between Milwaukee and Chicago. For air travel, the Milwaukee area is served by the General Mitchell International Airport (MKE). General Mitchell International is served by at least ten major airlines and fifteen commuter airlines.

Business and economic development organizations in the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area include:

The Business Journal of Milwaukee, and the "Business Section" of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel are all good sources of information on the economy and business community in the Milwaukee area.

Jobs in Milwaukee

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations856800$52,450$25.22100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations110130$41,490$19.9513.75
3Production Occupations85350$40,460$19.455.6
4Sales and Related Occupations76270$47,810$22.999.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations68930$23,950$11.528.7
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations67780$36,170$17.396.7
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations58310$86,550$41.615.85
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations54010$71,270$34.265.35
9Healthcare Support Occupations50600$28,450$13.682.85
10Educational Instruction and Library Occupations45010$53,430$25.696
11Management Occupations41190$126,290$60.726.35
12Home Health and Personal Care Aides30840$24,490$11.770
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations30470$51,200$24.623.75
14Construction and Extraction Occupations29270$61,290$29.474.6
15Computer and Mathematical Occupations26710$82,390$39.613
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations24670$30,620$14.723.6
17Fast Food and Counter Workers21570$21,180$10.182.45
18Retail Salespersons21090$27,270$13.112.7
19Customer Service Representatives21020$41,580$19.991.75
20Registered Nurses21010$73,970$35.561.95
21Personal Care and Service Occupations19000$29,790$14.324.65
22Office Clerks, General18100$37,810$18.181.9
23Architecture and Engineering Occupations17610$76,790$36.921.7
24Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand17110$35,190$16.921.8
25Cashiers15280$23,290$11.22.2
26Protective Service Occupations15170$49,350$23.732.2
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products13100$73,920$35.540.85
28Stockers and Order Fillers12740$27,160$13.061.25
29Community and Social Service Occupations12400$46,650$22.431.75
30Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners12360$28,740$13.821.5
31Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations11930$48,320$23.231.8
32Waiters and Waitresses10730$23,120$11.121.65
33Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators10620$32,910$15.820.8
34General and Operations Managers10590$147,240$70.791.5
35Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks10010$41,960$20.171.05
36Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers9660$49,380$23.741.2
37Maintenance and Repair Workers, General9390$43,300$20.820.9
38Nursing Assistants8970$30,960$14.880.95
39Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive8550$39,380$18.931.4
40Receptionists and Information Clerks8420$31,120$14.960.7
41First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers7920$62,860$30.220.95
42Accountants and Auditors7870$72,680$34.940.9
43Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers7420$97,680$46.960.65
44Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other7340$55,490$26.680.7
45Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel7220$63,860$30.70.7
46First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers6580$64,740$31.130.4
47Bartenders6570$23,520$11.310.4
48Legal Occupations6400$109,940$52.860.8
49Cooks, Restaurant6190$27,380$13.160.9
50Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators5750$46,500$22.360.1
51First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers5660$33,350$16.030.6
52Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers5570$33,770$16.230.75
53Computer Systems Analysts5560$81,370$39.120.4
54Light Truck Drivers5520$34,820$16.740.6
55Human Resources Specialists5410$63,970$30.760.4
56Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders5180$31,020$14.910.2
57Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations5040$69,870$33.590.8
58Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners4800$25,810$12.410.9
59Management Analysts4750$96,410$46.350.55
60Security Guards4690$30,550$14.690.7
61Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers4550$42,390$20.380.35
62Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers4320$38,970$18.740.2
63Carpenters4290$56,660$27.240.6
64First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers4230$47,110$22.650.95
65Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers4190$47,800$22.980.3
66Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists4180$61,940$29.780.45
67Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity4180$29,070$13.980.3
68Mechanical Engineers4050$83,580$40.180.2
69Construction Laborers3830$48,990$23.560.9
70Lawyers3820$146,710$70.540.5
71Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education3820$27,280$13.120.3
72Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks3800$39,160$18.830.4
73Machinists3750$43,880$21.10.2
74Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers3700$72,760$34.980.4
75Food Preparation Workers3610$21,820$10.490.5
76Packers and Packagers, Hand3580$28,130$13.530.4
77Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other3470$107,840$51.850.7
78Computer User Support Specialists3340$53,100$25.530.4
79Medical Assistants3340$37,480$18.020.45
80First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers3300$78,430$37.710.4
81Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric3300$236,280$113.60.3
82Electricians3280$69,530$33.430.45
83Printing Press Operators3240$37,670$18.110.1
84Industrial Engineers3230$81,620$39.240.2
85Recreation Workers3200$28,030$13.480.3
86Personal Financial Advisors3140$109,880$52.830.2
87Industrial Machinery Mechanics3120$57,210$27.50.2
88Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics3110$42,660$20.510.5
89Buyers and Purchasing Agents3040$62,580$30.090.25
90Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians2990$50,930$24.490.2
91Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators2960$40,580$19.510.4
92Pharmacy Technicians2900$34,950$16.80.3
93Tellers2870$30,020$14.430.25
94First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers2860$75,430$36.270.3
95Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic2810$39,080$18.790.1
96Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop2770$20,120$9.670.3
97Financial Managers2710$146,800$70.570.4
98Dishwashers2670$20,940$10.070.3
99Network and Computer Systems Administrators2650$78,520$37.750.2
100Administrative Services and Facilities Managers2640$121,000$58.170
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Milwaukee Colleges
Milwaukee colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Milwaukee Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$52,450856,800
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$41,490110,130
Production Occupations$40,46085,350
Sales and Related Occupations$47,81076,270
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$23,95068,930
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,17067,780
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$86,55058,310
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$71,27054,010
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,45050,600
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,43045,010
Management Occupations$126,29041,190
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$24,49030,840
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,20030,470
Construction and Extraction Occupations$61,29029,270
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,39026,710
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,62024,670
Fast Food and Counter Workers$21,18021,570
Retail Salespersons$27,27021,090
Customer Service Representatives$41,58021,020
Registered Nurses$73,97021,010
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,79019,000
Office Clerks, General$37,81018,100
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,79017,610
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,19017,110
Cashiers$23,29015,280
Protective Service Occupations$49,35015,170
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,92013,100
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,16012,740
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,65012,400
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,74012,360
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$48,32011,930
Waiters and Waitresses$23,12010,730
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$32,91010,620
General and Operations Managers$147,24010,590
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,96010,010
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,3809,660
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,3009,390
Nursing Assistants$30,9608,970
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,3808,550
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,1208,420
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,8607,920
Accountants and Auditors$72,6807,870
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$97,6807,420
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$55,4907,340
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,8607,220
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,7406,580
Bartenders$23,5206,570
Legal Occupations$109,9406,400
Cooks, Restaurant$27,3806,190
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$46,5005,750

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$52,450856,800
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$41,490110,130
Production Occupations$40,46085,350
Sales and Related Occupations$47,81076,270
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$36,17067,780
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$86,55058,310
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$71,27054,010
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,45050,600
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,43045,010
Management Occupations$126,29041,190
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,20030,470
Construction and Extraction Occupations$61,29029,270
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$82,39026,710
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,62024,670
Retail Salespersons$27,27021,090
Customer Service Representatives$41,58021,020
Registered Nurses$73,97021,010
Personal Care and Service Occupations$29,79019,000
Office Clerks, General$37,81018,100
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$76,79017,610
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,19017,110
Protective Service Occupations$49,35015,170
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,92013,100
Stockers and Order Fillers$27,16012,740
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,65012,400
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,74012,360
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$48,32011,930
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$32,91010,620
General and Operations Managers$147,24010,590
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$41,96010,010
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,3809,660
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$43,3009,390
Nursing Assistants$30,9608,970
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,3808,550
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,1208,420
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,8607,920
Accountants and Auditors$72,6807,870
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$97,6807,420
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$55,4907,340
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,8607,220
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,7406,580
Legal Occupations$109,9406,400
Cooks, Restaurant$27,3806,190
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$46,5005,750
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$33,3505,660
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$33,7705,570
Computer Systems Analysts$81,3705,560
Light Truck Drivers$34,8205,520
Human Resources Specialists$63,9705,410
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$31,0205,180

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