Milwaukee, Wisconsin Income Statistics
Milwaukee Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Milwaukee Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,029 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,047 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.1% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.3% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Milwaukee is about 30% lower than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing faster in Milwaukee (4.9%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Milwaukee earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Wisconsin average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Milwaukee, Wisconsin grew by 46.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,029 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Milwaukee
| Metric | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,244 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,241 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.2% | 19.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Milwaukee, it is 0.535, higher than Wisconsin's 0.503, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $175,105 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 15% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $983 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Milwaukee | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.8% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 17,326 people are unemployed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Milwaukee is 20 minutes, longer than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has fallen from 12.4% to 6.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.9% in 2022.
Milwaukee, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Milwaukee, WI compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 561,873 | $54,029 #3/3 | 4.9%/yr #1/3 | 6.2% #3/3 | 0.535 #3/3 |
| Wauwatosa, WI | 48,477 | $100,896 | 4.5%/yr | 2.1% | 0.484 |
| West Allis, WI | 59,584 | $67,223 | 4.7%/yr | 4.1% | 0.466 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Milwaukee, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Wisconsin, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Milwaukee has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $54,029, about 30% lower than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
How fast is household income rising in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Milwaukee, Wisconsin rose 47%, from $36,853 to $54,029. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Wisconsin as a whole: +47% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Milwaukee in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was $51,550, up 4% from $49,444 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Milwaukee in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was $43,017. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $54,029.
Is it hard to find a job in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Unemployment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is 6.2%, well above the Wisconsin rate of 3.2%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Milwaukee is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 15% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 9% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $983 since 2009.
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