Average Project Manager Salary in Milwaukee, WI

The average Project Manager in Milwaukee, WI earns $76,260 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$76260
Median Salary
$65000
vs. National
2.7% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$78670

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Milwaukee’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 96.937, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Project Managers actually earn in Milwaukee

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $48380
25th $57320
Median $65000
75th $90970
90th (top) $106610

640 Project Managers employed in the Milwaukee metro.

Can a Project Manager afford a home in Milwaukee?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Milwaukee home: $172000.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$48380$194381Yes
Median$65000$261156Yes
Top (90th)$106610$428337Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Project Manager in Milwaukee

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and WI state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Milwaukee at a glance

Population569756
Median household income$51888
Median home value$172000
Median rent$1033/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)96.937
Bachelor’s degree or higher17.2%
Poverty rate22.7%

In Milwaukee, WI, Project Managers earn a median of $65,000 a year — about 17% below the U.S. median of $78,400. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #21.

What that pay is worth in Milwaukee

Local prices run 97 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $76,260 salary stretches further than the sticker number — about $78,670 in national-average buying power.

Can Project Managers afford a home in Milwaukee?

A typical Milwaukee home runs about $172,000 — 2.3 times the average Project Manager salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,033/mo takes roughly 16% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Project Manager pay ladder in Milwaukee

Entry-level (10th percentile) Project Managers earn about $48,380; the top 10% reach $106,610 — a $58,230 spread, moderate for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Project Manager job market in Milwaukee

Milwaukee employs roughly 640 Project Managers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Milwaukee with other cities

See the full Project Manager salary by city ranking to weigh Milwaukee against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Project Managers make in Milwaukee?

The average Project Manager in Milwaukee, WI earns about $76,260 per year, 2.7% below the national average of $78,400.

What is the take-home pay for Project Managers in Milwaukee after taxes?

After federal and WI taxes, this $76,260 salary is worth about $59,780 a year - roughly $4,981 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 22%.

What do the highest-paid Project Managers earn in Milwaukee?

The top 10% of Project Managers in Milwaukee earn about $106,610 a year, versus about $48,380 for the bottom 10%.

Can Project Managers afford a home in Milwaukee?

A typical Milwaukee home runs about $172,000 - roughly 2.3x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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