Wausau Employment

Employment and Industries in the Wausau, Wisconsin Area

Wausau is the economic hub of north central Wisconsin. Manufacturing is a major asset to the Wausau area's economy. Some of the integral economic sectors are healthcare, tourism, banking, insurance and professional services. Food processing, especially cheese, also adds to the economy.

Some of the region's largest manufacturing employers are Greenheck Fan Corp, Kolbe & Kolbe Millworks Inc and Wausau Paper Corp. Employment is provided by businesses that produce items such as electric motors, wood and paper products, scissors, windows and doors, home manufacturing and ventilation equipment.

The top fields of employment in Wausau, Wisconsin are healthcare, manufacturing, finance and insurance, metal and metal products, paper, educational services, wood products and accommodation and food services.

Management, professional and related occupations (29% of the labor force). Sales and office occupations (27% of the jobs). Production, transportation and material moving occupations (18% of the workforce).

The Wausau region's major manufacturing employers:

  • Greenheck Fan Corp - Industrial commercial fans
  • Kolbe & Kolbe Millworks Inc - Wood windows and doors
  • Wausau Paper Corp - Pulp, paper & specialties
  • Marathon Cheese Corp - Cheese packaging
  • Marathon Electric Manufacturing Corp - Electric AC motors & generators
  • SNE/Peachtree - Wood & vinyl windows & doors
  • County Materials Corp - Concrete and architectural block
  • Wausau Window & Wall Systems - Aluminum widows, curtain wall systems
  • Land O'Lakes Inc - Cheese Division - Cheese packaging
  • Abbyland Foods Inc - Meat packaging

The Wausau region's major non-manufacturing employers:

  • Aspirus Wausau Hospital - Healthcare
  • Wausau School District - Education
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance
  • Footlocker.com/Eastbay - Retail/mail order
  • Northcentral Health Care - Healthcare
  • Marathon County Government - Government
  • UMR/Fiserv Health/Wausau Benefits Inc - Benefits administration
  • Marshfield Clinic - Wausau Center - Healthcare
  • DC Everest School District - Education
  • St. Clare's Hospital/Ministry Health - Healthcare

Facts regarding Wausau, Wisconsin: Average earnings in 2009: $29,000. Cost of living in 2008: 79.0 (U.S. average: 100). Adult residents holding a bachelor's degree or better: 22%

Businesses located in Wausau have access to helpful associations such as:

The Wausau Daily Herald provides current information about local business activities.

Jobs in Wausau

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations71040$47,580$22.88100
2Production Occupations12660$41,530$19.975.6
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations9360$38,430$18.4713.75
4Transportation and Material Moving Occupations6390$38,230$18.386.7
5Sales and Related Occupations6270$37,950$18.249.5
6Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations4680$24,780$11.918.7
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations4510$84,190$40.485.85
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations3730$62,760$30.175.35
9Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations3140$47,170$22.683.75
10Educational Instruction and Library Occupations2990$54,140$26.036
11Healthcare Support Occupations2990$30,970$14.892.85
12Construction and Extraction Occupations2510$52,310$25.154.6
13Management Occupations2500$110,050$52.916.35
14Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators2260$37,800$18.170.8
15Retail Salespersons1830$26,770$12.872.7
16Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand1790$34,440$16.561.8
17Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations1780$29,330$14.13.6
18Cashiers1730$20,990$10.092.2
19Computer and Mathematical Occupations1650$76,790$36.923
20Registered Nurses1650$68,400$32.881.95
21Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1410$47,510$22.841.2
22Office Clerks, General1360$35,170$16.911.9
23Architecture and Engineering Occupations1280$70,810$34.041.7
24Home Health and Personal Care Aides1270$24,810$11.930
25Customer Service Representatives1240$36,150$17.381.75
26Fast Food and Counter Workers1200$20,970$10.082.45
27Personal Care and Service Occupations1090$27,000$12.984.65
28Protective Service Occupations1090$44,290$21.292.2
29Maintenance and Repair Workers, General1030$45,670$21.960.9
30Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1010$39,640$19.061.05
31Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders980$39,340$18.910.2
32First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers970$60,020$28.860.4
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products930$62,540$30.070.85
34Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers930$45,200$21.730.3
35Receptionists and Information Clerks910$29,960$14.410.7
36Community and Social Service Occupations880$48,220$23.181.75
37Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners850$29,960$14.41.5
38Stockers and Order Fillers810$28,820$13.861.25
39Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations790$40,780$19.611.8
40Nursing Assistants740$30,460$14.640.95
41General and Operations Managers700$120,130$57.751.5
42Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders640$51,940$24.970.1
43Light Truck Drivers620$40,190$19.320.6
44Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters580$48,980$23.550
45Waiters and Waitresses570$25,500$12.261.65
46Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic560$39,360$18.920.1
47First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers560$60,650$29.160.95
48Food Preparation Workers530$24,040$11.560.5
49Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers520$43,640$20.980.35
50Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners520$24,810$11.930.9
51Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive500$36,670$17.631.4
52Accountants and Auditors490$68,320$32.850.9
53Bartenders490$23,660$11.380.4
54Cooks, Restaurant470$27,150$13.050.9
55First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers470$42,870$20.610.95
56Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers460$93,630$45.010.65
57Machinists450$43,510$20.920.2
58Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks450$43,750$21.040.4
59Construction Laborers440$47,020$22.610.9
60Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators430$72,010$34.620.2
61Food Batchmakers430$33,990$16.340.1
62Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics400$43,080$20.710.5
63Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing390$35,630$17.130
64Carpenters380$43,980$21.140.6
65Firefighters380$36,620$17.610.2
66Medical Assistants380$37,970$18.250.45
67First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers370$35,030$16.840.6
68Human Resources Specialists370$64,240$30.880.4
69Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity370$33,450$16.080.3
70Buyers and Purchasing Agents360$54,580$26.240.25
71Computer Systems Analysts350$71,530$34.390.4
72Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists330$25,270$12.150.4
73Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders320$40,330$19.390.1
74Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers320$31,050$14.930.75
75Tellers320$28,420$13.660.25
76Electricians310$53,470$25.710.45
77Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations310$57,630$27.710.8
78Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria300$27,090$13.030.3
79Industrial Machinery Mechanics300$51,710$24.860.2
80Legal Occupations300$98,060$47.150.8
81Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists290$56,320$27.080.45
82Mechanical Engineers290$79,330$38.140.2
83Billing and Posting Clerks280$41,740$20.070.3
84Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel280$54,430$26.170.7
85Driver/Sales Workers270$41,400$19.910.3
86Helpers--Production Workers260$33,710$16.210.2
87Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants260$35,810$17.220.4
88Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers260$63,730$30.640.4
89First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers250$65,440$31.460.3
90Bill and Account Collectors240$36,810$17.70.15
91Industrial Engineers240$78,790$37.880.2
92Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators240$37,910$18.230.4
93Packers and Packagers, Hand240$28,460$13.690.4
94Substitute Teachers, Short-Term240$32,860$15.80.4
95Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric230$277,360$133.350.3
96Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators220$42,560$20.460.1
97First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers220$65,480$31.480.4
98Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic220$37,540$18.050
99Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other220$40,060$19.260
100Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other220$93,760$45.080.7
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Wausau Colleges
Wausau colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Wausau Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,58071,040
Production Occupations$41,53012,660
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,4309,360
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,2306,390
Sales and Related Occupations$37,9506,270
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,7804,680
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$84,1904,510
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$62,7603,730
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,1703,140
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$54,1402,990
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,9702,990
Construction and Extraction Occupations$52,3102,510
Management Occupations$110,0502,500
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$37,8002,260
Retail Salespersons$26,7701,830
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$34,4401,790
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,3301,780
Cashiers$20,9901,730
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,7901,650
Registered Nurses$68,4001,650
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$47,5101,410
Office Clerks, General$35,1701,360
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$70,8101,280
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$24,8101,270
Customer Service Representatives$36,1501,240
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,9701,200
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,0001,090
Protective Service Occupations$44,2901,090
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$45,6701,030
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$39,6401,010
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$39,340980
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$60,020970
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,540930
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$45,200930
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,960910
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,220880
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,960850
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,820810
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$40,780790
Nursing Assistants$30,460740
General and Operations Managers$120,130700
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,940640
Light Truck Drivers$40,190620
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$48,980580
Waiters and Waitresses$25,500570
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,360560
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,650560
Food Preparation Workers$24,040530
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$43,640520
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,810520

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$47,58071,040
Production Occupations$41,53012,660
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,4309,360
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$38,2306,390
Sales and Related Occupations$37,9506,270
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$84,1904,510
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$62,7603,730
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,1703,140
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$54,1402,990
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,9702,990
Construction and Extraction Occupations$52,3102,510
Management Occupations$110,0502,500
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$37,8002,260
Retail Salespersons$26,7701,830
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$34,4401,790
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$29,3301,780
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$76,7901,650
Registered Nurses$68,4001,650
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$47,5101,410
Office Clerks, General$35,1701,360
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$70,8101,280
Customer Service Representatives$36,1501,240
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,0001,090
Protective Service Occupations$44,2901,090
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$45,6701,030
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$39,6401,010
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$39,340980
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$60,020970
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,540930
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$45,200930
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,960910
Community and Social Service Occupations$48,220880
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,960850
Stockers and Order Fillers$28,820810
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$40,780790
Nursing Assistants$30,460740
General and Operations Managers$120,130700
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,940640
Light Truck Drivers$40,190620
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$48,980580
Waiters and Waitresses$25,500570
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,360560
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,650560
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$43,640520
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,670500
Accountants and Auditors$68,320490
Cooks, Restaurant$27,150470
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$42,870470
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$93,630460
Machinists$43,510450

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