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Average salary by job family in Wausau
| Management | $123,550 |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $110,620 |
| Legal | $97,660 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $85,140 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $82,900 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $81,790 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $81,380 |
| Construction and Extraction | $66,240 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair | $62,010 |
| Community and Social Service | $59,780 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $56,140 |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media | $54,940 |
| Protective Service | $54,700 |
| Production | $51,930 |
| Office and Administrative Support | $49,130 |
| Sales and Related | $48,480 |
| Transportation and Material Moving | $46,400 |
| Healthcare Support | $41,430 |
| Personal Care and Service | $39,590 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry | $39,420 |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance | $39,250 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | $31,540 |
Highest-paying jobs in Wausau
- Physicians, All Other$353,490
- Nurse Anesthetists$278,370
- Chief Executives$227,420
- Dentists, General$201,820
- Personal Financial Advisors$153,020
- Optometrists$146,630
- Lawyers$145,520
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$144,530
- Financial Managers$143,260
- Pharmacists$142,940
Most common jobs in Wausau and what they pay
| Job | Jobs | Average salary | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 2,110 | $45,670 | $45,670 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,840 | $43,640 | $43,460 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,830 | $89,340 | $89,190 |
| Retail Salespersons | 1,660 | $35,840 | $34,160 |
| Cashiers | 1,660 | $30,970 | $30,480 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,460 | $57,780 | $58,520 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 1,440 | $27,860 | $27,830 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,330 | $35,130 | $35,910 |
| Office Clerks, General | 1,170 | $44,620 | $44,660 |
| Food Batchmakers | 1,090 | $48,960 | $48,560 |
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Cost of living in Wausau
Prices in the Wausau area are 7% below the U.S. average, with a BEA price parity of 92.7 for 2024. The average local salary of $60,120 therefore buys what $64,889 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. A typical home is worth $274,194, 3.6 times the median household income of $76,185.
$274,194typical home value
$76,185median household income
92.7BEA price parity
138,067metro population
Take-home pay in Wausau
| Salary level | Gross | After tax | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile wage | $37,640 | $31,456 | $2,621 |
| Median wage | $48,790 | $39,866 | $3,322 |
| Average wage | $60,120 | $48,411 | $4,034 |
| 75th percentile wage | $69,860 | $55,338 | $4,612 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Salaries for every job in Wausau
Management19 jobs
- Chief Executives$227K
- Computer and Information Systems Managers$145K
- Financial Managers$143K
- Medical and Health Services Managers$143K
- Marketing Managers$142K
- Human Resources Managers$134K
- Sales Managers$129K
- Architectural and Engineering Managers$128K
- General and Operations Managers$127K
- Facilities Managers$116K
- Purchasing Managers$113K
- Construction Managers$110K
- Managers, All Other$109K
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$108K
- Administrative Services Managers$106K
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$92K
- Social and Community Service Managers$82K
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$77K
- Food Service Managers$64K
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical26 jobs
- Physicians, All Other$353K
- Nurse Anesthetists$278K
- Dentists, General$202K
- Optometrists$147K
- Pharmacists$143K
- Physician Assistants$134K
- Nurse Practitioners$133K
- Veterinarians$114K
- Physical Therapists$101K
- Dental Hygienists$89K
- Registered Nurses$89K
- Occupational Therapists$88K
- Speech-Language Pathologists$80K
- Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76K
- Dietitians and Nutritionists$72K
- Surgical Technologists$70K
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$69K
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$65K
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61K
- Medical Records Specialists$56K
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$53K
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$50K
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47K
- Opticians, Dispensing$45K
- Pharmacy Technicians$44K
- Emergency Medical Technicians$41K
Legal2 jobs
Architecture and Engineering7 jobs
Computer and Mathematical9 jobs
Life, Physical, and Social Science4 jobs
Business and Financial Operations22 jobs
- Personal Financial Advisors$153K
- Management Analysts$100K
- Project Management Specialists$93K
- Loan Officers$89K
- Accountants and Auditors$88K
- Labor Relations Specialists$87K
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$86K
- Compliance Officers$78K
- Insurance Underwriters$78K
- Cost Estimators$76K
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$75K
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other$75K
- Logisticians$73K
- Property Appraisers and Assessors$73K
- Training and Development Specialists$73K
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$72K
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents$72K
- Financial and Investment Analysts$71K
- Human Resources Specialists$71K
- Credit Analysts$70K
- Financial Specialists, All Other$61K
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$50K
Construction and Extraction10 jobs
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$83K
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$80K
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$80K
- Sheet Metal Workers$72K
- Electricians$71K
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$66K
- Carpenters$56K
- Construction Laborers$56K
- Highway Maintenance Workers$55K
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance$52K
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair14 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83K
- Millwrights$79K
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$71K
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68K
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65K
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62K
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$61K
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61K
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58K
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$55K
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$55K
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers$55K
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55K
- Tire Repairers and Changers$41K
Community and Social Service7 jobs
- Healthcare Social Workers$66K
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$64K
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$61K
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$58K
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$55K
- Social and Human Service Assistants$55K
- Rehabilitation Counselors$50K
Educational Instruction and Library14 jobs
- Instructional Coordinators$88K
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$86K
- Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$70K
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$66K
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$65K
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63K
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$62K
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$61K
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61K
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$44K
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$39K
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$37K
- Library Technicians$36K
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$34K
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media5 jobs
Protective Service7 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$89K
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators$88K
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77K
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$75K
- Firefighters$48K
- Security Guards$40K
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$26K
Production34 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76K
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$66K
- Tool and Die Makers$64K
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62K
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61K
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$60K
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57K
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$56K
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56K
- Machinists$54K
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$53K
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53K
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52K
- Printing Press Operators$51K
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49K
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49K
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$49K
- Food Batchmakers$49K
- Helpers--Production Workers$49K
- Production Workers, All Other$48K
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$48K
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$48K
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48K
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47K
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$46K
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$45K
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43K
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43K
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$43K
- Butchers and Meat Cutters$43K
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers$41K
- Sewing Machine Operators$38K
- Bakers$36K
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34K
Office and Administrative Support27 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71K
- Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66K
- Postal Service Mail Carriers$63K
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$59K
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57K
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$55K
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$54K
- Bill and Account Collectors$53K
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$52K
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$51K
- Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$51K
- Billing and Posting Clerks$49K
- Loan Interviewers and Clerks$49K
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$48K
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$48K
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$48K
- Customer Service Representatives$48K
- New Accounts Clerks$47K
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$45K
- File Clerks$45K
- Office Clerks, General$45K
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$44K
- Tellers$42K
- Library Assistants, Clerical$41K
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$40K
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$33K
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other$32K
Sales and Related11 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$98K
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$76K
- Insurance Sales Agents$76K
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75K
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67K
- Real Estate Sales Agents$54K
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$52K
- Counter and Rental Clerks$47K
- Parts Salespersons$46K
- Retail Salespersons$36K
- Cashiers$31K
Transportation and Material Moving13 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$63K
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58K
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$50K
- Light Truck Drivers$49K
- Bus Drivers, School$48K
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$45K
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$44K
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$36K
- Stockers and Order Fillers$36K
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35K
- Driver/Sales Workers$34K
- Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$34K
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$33K
Healthcare Support10 jobs
- Physical Therapist Assistants$63K
- Medical Assistants$49K
- Dental Assistants$48K
- Medical Equipment Preparers$48K
- Medical Transcriptionists$45K
- Phlebotomists$44K
- Nursing Assistants$43K
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$41K
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$36K
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides$35K
Personal Care and Service7 jobs
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry1 jobs
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance6 jobs
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$57K
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$55K
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners$52K
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$39K
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38K
- Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$34K
Food Preparation and Serving Related13 jobs
- Chefs and Head Cooks$65K
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$41K
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$39K
- Cooks, Restaurant$35K
- Waiters and Waitresses$34K
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$34K
- Food Preparation Workers$33K
- Cooks, Fast Food$30K
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$28K
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$28K
- Dishwashers$28K
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$27K
- Bartenders$25K
Average salary in nearby cities
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Salary in Wausau: questions
What is a good salary in Wausau?
Half of all workers in the Wausau metro earn less than $48,790 and the average is $60,120. Earning more than $69,860 puts you in the top quarter of local wages.
How much do you need to earn in Wausau to match a $70,751 salary elsewhere?
About $65,551, because prices here are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7).
What are the highest-paying jobs in Wausau?
Physicians, All Other ($353,490), Nurse Anesthetists ($278,370), Chief Executives ($227,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. Area Wausau, WI (48140), all occupations and 268 individual jobs.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.