Kenosha Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Kenosha, WI: $23.22/hr median hourly wage, $48,310 median annual salary, cost of living index 90, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Wisconsin taxes.
Kenosha Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Kenosha, WI is $23.22/hr,and the median annual wage is $48,310. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.40/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.97/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kenosha, WI metropolitan statistical area (75,450 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Kenosha shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$48,310
$23.22/hr
Cost of Living
90
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.2%
rate
Kenosha, WI Overview
Population
99,986
Median Salary
$48,310
Average Salary
$60,490
Avg Commute
25 min
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Rent
$1,000/mo
Job Growth
+1.2%
Sales Tax
5.5%
Kenosha is located in Wisconsin with a population of 99,986. The median annual wage across all occupations is $48,310 ($23.22/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Kenosha, WI metro), which is $2,670 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 25 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.2%.
Kenosha Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Kenosha, WI built around the $48,310 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kenosha, 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 | $29,952 | $14.40/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $48,310 | $23.22/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $68,600 | $32.97/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $85,992 | $41.33/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.
Kenosha Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Kenosha, WI, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,622
$3,301.81/month · $1,523.91/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.0%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,523.91 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
$48,310
Federal Tax
-$3,617
State Tax
-$1,375
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,696
Net Pay
$39,622
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,025.83 | $48,310.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$301.43 | -$3,617.20 |
| Wisconsin State Tax (2.85% eff.) | -$114.62 | -$1,375.41 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$249.60 | -$2,995.22 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$58.37 | -$700.50 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,301.81 | $39,621.68 |
Salary Comparison: Kenosha vs Other Cities
See how Kenosha's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | $48,310 | 90 | $53,678 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Lewiston, ID | $48,300 | 96.6 | $50,000 |
| La Crosse, WI | $48,260 | 85.9 | $56,182 |
| Canton Township, MI | $48,363 | 93.5 | $51,725 |
| Louisville, KY | $48,370 | 90 | $53,744 |
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 Kenosha
Kenosha's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100). Living in Kenosha is 10% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Annual Rent Cost
$12,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,622 annual take-home pay in Kenosha has the purchasing power of approximately $44,024 in an average-cost US area. Your $48,310 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Kenosha
Kenosha's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $48,310.
Salary Tips for Kenosha 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. Kenosha's top industries include Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $48,310 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
La Crosse
Madison
Manitowoc
Menomonee Falls
Milwaukee
New Berlin
Oak Creek
Oshkosh
Racine
Sheboygan
Sun Prairie
Waukesha
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Kenosha salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Kenosha, 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 Kenosha indexed at 90.
- Median salary: $48,310 annual, $23.22 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kenosha, WI MSA (75,450 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $60,490 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Kenosha was $53,000.
- 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 Kenosha: 3.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Wisconsin.
- Housing context: median home price $195,000, median rent $1,000/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Kenosha, WI:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Kenosha unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Kenosha 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. Kenosha'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 Kenosha, WI?
The median hourly wage in Kenosha, WI is $23.22 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Kenosha, WI metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $48,310. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.40/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.97/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Kenosha, WI?
The median salary in Kenosha, WI is $48,310 per year, or $23.22 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Kenosha, WI metro area). The BLS mean salary is $60,490. This is $2,670 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Kenosha, WI?
Kenosha'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 $195,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,000.
What are the best industries in Kenosha?
The top industries in Kenosha, WI include Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail. The city has a job growth rate of 1.2% and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $48,310.
How does Kenosha's salary compare to other cities?
Kenosha's median salary of $48,310 is 5.2% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 90), the real purchasing power is approximately $53,678.
What is the minimum wage in Kenosha, WI?
The minimum wage in Kenosha, 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.