Lawyers Salary in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, lawyers earn a median $126,760 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−21%); the state ranks 32nd of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.5 times the median across all occupations in Wisconsin ($50,270). Among neighbouring states, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan pay more (up to $160,800 in Illinois) and Iowa pays less (down to $123,550 in Iowa). Wisconsin employs 9,160 lawyers, 3.11 per 1,000 jobs, the 22nd largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.64 means it is less common in Wisconsin than nationally.
Wisconsin vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $36.54 | $45.62 | $60.94 | $95.32 | $174.06 | $82.31 | 9,160 | 3.11 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $76,010 | $94,890 | $126,760 | $198,270 | $362,040 | $171,200 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 32nd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 22nd of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.64
- Jobs per 1,000
- 3.11
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Wisconsin's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Wisconsin
15 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Wisconsin publish a row for lawyers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $76.74 | $159,620 | $85,810 | $352,210 | 10,160 | 5.21 | 1.07 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $63.03 | $131,100 | $78,970 | $436,120 | 4,040 | 4.93 | 1.02 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $62.08 | $129,120 | $65,470 | $246,800 | 260 | 2.07 | 0.43 |
| Appleton, WI | $60.76 | $126,390 | $76,400 | $384,850 | 250 | 2.04 | 0.42 |
| Madison, WI | $59.68 | $124,130 | $77,040 | $365,510 | 1,860 | 4.55 | 0.94 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $58.52 | $121,720 | $79,250 | $295,620 | 60 | 1.45 | 0.30 |
| Green Bay, WI | $57.39 | $119,370 | $74,160 | $335,860 | 310 | 1.79 | 0.37 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $55.92 | $116,320 | $66,830 | $337,070 | 170 | 1.98 | 0.41 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $55.66 | $115,770 | $73,790 | $399,990 | 80 | 1.32 | 0.27 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $55.43 | $115,290 | $76,380 | $345,280 | 210 | 2.21 | 0.46 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $53.07 | $110,380 | $73,000 | $332,060 | 140 | 1.95 | 0.40 |
| Kenosha, WI | $52.13 | $108,420 | $76,380 | $336,250 | 120 | 1.58 | 0.33 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $51.39 | $106,900 | $73,000 | $222,090 | 160 | 2.13 | 0.44 |
| Wausau, WI | $51.10 | $106,290 | $65,360 | $288,460 | 150 | 2.18 | 0.45 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $50.44 | $104,910 | $60,800 | $290,370 | 130 | 1.57 | 0.32 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $60.72 | $126,290 | $71,580 | $304,000 | 360 | 1.84 | 0.38 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53.98 | $112,280 | $68,400 | $309,000 | 140 | 1.08 | 0.22 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $52.08 | $108,330 | $61,520 | $286,740 | 280 | 1.32 | 0.27 |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51.91 | $107,970 | $61,400 | $295,990 | 80 | 1.59 | 0.33 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Lawyers (every state ranked) and the Wisconsin wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Wisconsin estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.