Average Truck Driver Salary in Milwaukee, WI

The average Truck Driver in Milwaukee, WI earns $56,990 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$56990
Median Salary
$56270
vs. National
1.8% above
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$58791

“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 Truck Drivers actually earn in Milwaukee

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

10th (entry) $39680
25th $48860
Median $56270
75th $62700
90th (top) $78690

10170 Truck Drivers employed in the Milwaukee metro.

Can a Truck Driver 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)$39680$15942693%
Median$56270$226081Yes
Top (90th)$78690$316160Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Truck Driver 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, Truck Drivers earn a median of $56,270 a year — about 1% above the U.S. median of $55,990. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #23.

What that pay is worth in Milwaukee

Local prices run 97 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $56,990 salary stretches further than the sticker number — about $58,791 in national-average buying power.

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Milwaukee?

A typical Milwaukee home runs about $172,000 — 3.0 times the average Truck Driver salary, manageable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,033/mo takes roughly 22% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Truck Driver pay ladder in Milwaukee

Entry-level (10th percentile) Truck Drivers earn about $39,680; the top 10% reach $78,690 — a $39,010 spread, moderate for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Truck Driver job market in Milwaukee

Milwaukee employs roughly 10,170 Truck Drivers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Milwaukee with other cities

See the full Truck Driver 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 Truck Drivers make in Milwaukee?

The average Truck Driver in Milwaukee, WI earns about $56,990 per year, 1.8% above the national average of $55,990.

What is the take-home pay for Truck Drivers in Milwaukee after taxes?

After federal and WI taxes, this $56,990 salary is worth about $46,214 a year - roughly $3,851 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 19%.

What do the highest-paid Truck Drivers earn in Milwaukee?

The top 10% of Truck Drivers in Milwaukee earn about $78,690 a year, versus about $39,680 for the bottom 10%.

Can Truck Drivers afford a home in Milwaukee?

A typical Milwaukee home runs about $172,000 - roughly 3.0x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.