Wisconsin Income Statistics
Wisconsin Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Wisconsin Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Wisconsin
- Waukesha County (121% of U.S. avg)
- Ozaukee County (121% of U.S. avg)
- St. Croix County (120% of U.S. avg)
- Menominee County (79% of U.S. avg)
- Adams County (88% of U.S. avg)
- Ashland County (89% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wisconsin | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wisconsin is about 3% lower than in US. Income has been growing slower in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Wisconsin earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Wisconsin grew by 50.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,698 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wisconsin
| Metric | Wisconsin | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 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 Wisconsin, it is 0.503, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $458,640 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wisconsin has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,174 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wisconsin | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 101,705 people are unemployed in Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Wisconsin is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wisconsin has fallen from 7.1% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.8% in 2013.
Wisconsin Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Wisconsin is typical in size for this group, 5,910,864 residents against a local median of 6,845,048, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Wisconsin breaks from the states next to it is unemployment, sitting 24% below the local median of 4.3% at 3.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The states themselves spread 2.2% on unemployment, so Wisconsin sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Wisconsin has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 5,910,864 | $77,698 #3/6 | 4.4%/yr #5/6 | 3.2% #1/6 | 0.503 #1/6 |
| Michigan | 10,068,405 | $72,977 | 4.6%/yr | 5.7% | 0.539 |
| Illinois | 12,692,444 | $84,042 | 4.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.547 |
| Iowa | 3,204,793 | $75,133 | 4.0%/yr | 3.6% | 0.510 |
| Minnesota | 5,724,000 | $89,852 | 4.4%/yr | 4.1% | 0.507 |
| Indiana | 6,845,048 | $71,967 | 4.5%/yr | 4.3% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $77,698, about 3% lower than the US average of $80,455.
How fast is household income rising in Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wisconsin rose 50%, from $51,699 to $77,698. Over the same years, income here lagged behind the U.S. as a whole: +50% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Wisconsin in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wisconsin was $75,781, up 4% from $72,608 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Wisconsin in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wisconsin was $63,611. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $77,698.
Is it hard to find a job in Wisconsin?
Unemployment in Wisconsin is only 3.2%, well below the US rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Wisconsin is 0.503. 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 Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wisconsin has narrowed from about 26% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,174 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →