Appleton Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Appleton, WI: $24.00/hr median hourly wage, $49,910 median annual salary, cost of living index 90, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Wisconsin taxes.
Appleton Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Appleton, WI is $24.00/hr,and the median annual wage is $49,910. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.88/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $34.08/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Appleton, WI metropolitan statistical area (124,230 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Appleton shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$49,910
$24.00/hr
Cost of Living
90
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
Appleton, WI Overview
Population
75,644
Median Salary
$49,910
Average Salary
$62,240
Avg Commute
18 min
Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Rent
$1,000/mo
Job Growth
+1.8%
Sales Tax
5.5%
Appleton is located in Wisconsin with a population of 75,644. The median annual wage across all occupations is $49,910 ($24.00/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Appleton, WI metro), which is $1,070 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 18 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.8%.
Appleton Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Appleton, WI built around the $49,910 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Appleton, WI metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,944 | $14.88/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,910 | $24.00/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $70,872 | $34.08/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $88,840 | $42.72/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Appleton Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Appleton, WI, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,837
$3,403.07/month · $1,570.65/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.2%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,570.65 take-home per paycheck after estimated Wisconsin and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$49,910
Federal Tax
-$3,809
State Tax
-$1,446
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,818
Net Pay
$40,837
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,159.17 | $49,910.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$317.43 | -$3,809.20 |
| Wisconsin State Tax (2.90% eff.) | -$120.48 | -$1,445.81 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$257.87 | -$3,094.42 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$60.31 | -$723.70 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,403.07 | $40,836.88 |
Salary Comparison: Appleton vs Other Cities
See how Appleton's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | $49,910 | 90 | $55,456 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Medford, OR | $49,900 | 100 | $49,900 |
| Findlay, OH | $49,883 | 90.2 | $55,303 |
| Green Bay, WI | $49,940 | 88 | $56,750 |
| Yuba City, CA | $49,970 | 159.2 | $31,388 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Appleton
Appleton's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100). Living in Appleton is 10% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Annual Rent Cost
$12,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,837 annual take-home pay in Appleton has the purchasing power of approximately $45,374 in an average-cost US area. Your $49,910 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Appleton
Appleton's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,910.
Salary Tips for Appleton Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 7.65% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Appleton's top industries include Manufacturing, Healthcare, Insurance. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,910 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Appleton salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Appleton, WI metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Appleton indexed at 90.
- Median salary: $49,910 annual, $24.00 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Appleton, WI MSA (124,230 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $62,240 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Appleton was $58,000.
- Tax burden reflects Wisconsin 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 7.65%) (no local income tax), sales tax (5.5%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Appleton: 2.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Insurance, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Wisconsin.
- Housing context: median home price $220,000, median rent $1,000/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Appleton, WI:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Appleton unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Appleton QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Wisconsin, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Appleton's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Wisconsin labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Appleton, WI?
The median hourly wage in Appleton, WI is $24.00 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Appleton, WI metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $49,910. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.88/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $34.08/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Appleton, WI?
The median salary in Appleton, WI is $49,910 per year, or $24.00 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Appleton, WI metro area). The BLS mean salary is $62,240. This is $1,070 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Appleton, WI?
Appleton's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100), meaning it is 10% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $220,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,000.
What are the best industries in Appleton?
The top industries in Appleton, WI include Manufacturing, Healthcare, Insurance. The city has a job growth rate of 1.8% and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,910.
How does Appleton's salary compare to other cities?
Appleton's median salary of $49,910 is 2.1% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 90), the real purchasing power is approximately $55,456.
What is the minimum wage in Appleton, WI?
The minimum wage in Appleton, WI is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.