Eau Claire Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Eau Claire, WI: $23.12/hr median hourly wage, $48,100 median annual salary, cost of living index 88, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Wisconsin taxes.
Eau Claire Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Eau Claire, WI is $23.12/hr,and the median annual wage is $48,100. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.33/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.83/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Eau Claire, WI metropolitan statistical area (86,060 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Eau Claire shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$48,100
$23.12/hr
Cost of Living
88
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
Eau Claire, WI Overview
Population
69,421
Median Salary
$48,100
Average Salary
$60,760
Avg Commute
18 min
Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Rent
$950/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
5.5%
Eau Claire is located in Wisconsin with a population of 69,421. The median annual wage across all occupations is $48,100 ($23.12/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Eau Claire, WI metro), which is $2,880 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 +1.5%.
Eau Claire Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Eau Claire, WI built around the $48,100 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Eau Claire, 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 | $29,822 | $14.33/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $48,100 | $23.12/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $68,302 | $32.83/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $85,618 | $41.15/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.
Eau Claire Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Eau Claire, WI, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,462
$3,288.52/month · $1,517.78/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.0%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,517.78 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
$48,100
Federal Tax
-$3,592
State Tax
-$1,366
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,680
Net Pay
$39,462
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,008.33 | $48,100.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$299.33 | -$3,592.00 |
| Wisconsin State Tax (2.84% eff.) | -$113.85 | -$1,366.17 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$248.52 | -$2,982.20 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$58.12 | -$697.45 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,288.52 | $39,462.18 |
Salary Comparison: Eau Claire vs Other Cities
See how Eau Claire's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | $48,100 | 88 | $54,659 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Blacksburg, VA | $48,120 | 103.6 | $46,448 |
| Golden Gate, FL | $48,076 | 100.5 | $47,837 |
| Elkhart, IN | $48,070 | 89.6 | $53,650 |
| Goshen, IN | $48,070 | 83.4 | $57,638 |
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 Eau Claire
Eau Claire's cost of living index is 88 (national average = 100). Living in Eau Claire is 12% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$220,000
Median Monthly Rent
$950
Annual Rent Cost
$11,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,462 annual take-home pay in Eau Claire has the purchasing power of approximately $44,843 in an average-cost US area. Your $48,100 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Eau Claire
Eau Claire's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $48,100.
Salary Tips for Eau Claire Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Eau Claire has a cost of living 12% below the national average. A salary of $48,100 here has the purchasing power of about $54,659 in an average-cost area.
- 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. Eau Claire's top industries include Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $48,100 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.
Other Cities in Wisconsin
Fitchburg
Fond du Lac
Franklin
Green Bay
Greenfield
Janesville
Kenosha
La Crosse
Madison
Manitowoc
Menomonee Falls
Milwaukee
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Eau Claire salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire indexed at 88.
- Median salary: $48,100 annual, $23.12 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Eau Claire, WI MSA (86,060 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $60,760 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Eau Claire was $52,000.
- 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 Eau Claire: 2.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Wisconsin.
- Housing context: median home price $220,000, median rent $950/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Eau Claire, WI:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Eau Claire unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Eau Claire 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. Eau Claire'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 Eau Claire, WI?
The median hourly wage in Eau Claire, WI is $23.12 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Eau Claire, WI metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $48,100. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.33/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.83/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Eau Claire, WI?
The median salary in Eau Claire, WI is $48,100 per year, or $23.12 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Eau Claire, WI metro area). The BLS mean salary is $60,760. This is $2,880 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Eau Claire, WI?
Eau Claire's cost of living index is 88 (national average = 100), meaning it is 12% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $220,000 and the median monthly rent is $950.
What are the best industries in Eau Claire?
The top industries in Eau Claire, WI include Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $48,100.
How does Eau Claire's salary compare to other cities?
Eau Claire's median salary of $48,100 is 5.6% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 88), the real purchasing power is approximately $54,659.
What is the minimum wage in Eau Claire, WI?
The minimum wage in Eau Claire, 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.