Wisconsin · SOC 15-1252
Software Engineer Salary in Wisconsin
VerifiedPublished wages for software engineers in Wisconsin, straight from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024 release — the full percentile distribution, employment concentration, and metro detail.
Software Engineers in Wisconsin earn a median of $103,360 per year ($114,030 mean), per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $82,280–$129,760; the top 10% earn $162,220. That is 22% below the national median of $133,080, ranking Wisconsin #45 of 51 states that publish this occupation.
Median wage
Verified$103,360
-22% vs national
Top 10% earn
$162,220
90th percentile
Employed in state
22,170
Reliability High (3.7% RSE)
Software Engineer pay distribution — Wisconsin vs national
Every figure below is a published BLS percentile. Bars share one scale, so the two distributions compare directly.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $63,120 | -21% |
| 25th percentile | $82,280 | -20% |
| Median50th percentile | $103,360 | -22% |
| 75th percentile | $129,760 | -23% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $162,220 | -23% |
| Meanaverage | $114,030 | -21% |
Where software engineers earn most in Wisconsin
Metro areas in Wisconsin where BLS publishes a wage for SOC 15-1252. Metros BLS withholds are not listed.
| Metro area | Median | Top 10% | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| MinneapolisMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $129,430 | $167,350 | 29,550 |
| KenoshaKenosha, WI | $106,070 | $174,680 | 360 |
| OshkoshOshkosh-Neenah, WI | $105,620 | $157,960 | 580 |
| MadisonMadison, WI | $104,670 | $157,800 | 6,380 |
| MilwaukeeMilwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $104,500 | $161,600 | 5,710 |
| Fond du LacFond du Lac, WI | $104,300 | $132,880 | 150 |
| SheboyganSheboygan, WI | $104,170 | $132,340 | 280 |
| Green BayGreen Bay, WI | $101,610 | $145,600 | 870 |
| Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI | $101,550 | $171,960 | 490 |
| WausauWausau, WI | $100,840 | $160,150 | 270 |
| DuluthDuluth, MN-WI | $100,530 | $152,810 | 490 |
| La CrosseLa Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $99,930 | $153,470 | 380 |
| AppletonAppleton, WI | $99,650 | $152,290 | 510 |
| JanesvilleJanesville-Beloit, WI | $98,970 | $159,440 | 270 |
| RacineRacine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $97,280 | $138,130 | 310 |
Wisconsin engineering labor market
Concentration and pay level across all engineering occupations BLS publishes for this state.
Location quotient
0.71
Jobs per 1,000
7.58
State rank (pay)
#45 of 51
All engineering roles
$98,231
A location quotient of 0.71 means software engineers are less concentrated here than the national average, so openings are thinner even where pay is competitive.
Frequently asked questions
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Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 15-1252 (Software Developers), Wisconsin (state).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →