Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters salary in Milwaukee, WI
Median pay for plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters in Milwaukee, WI: $79,510/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $46,740 – $113,250 · about 1,720 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($59,690) by +$19,820 (+33%).
What it's really worth in Milwaukee
With Milwaukee's cost of living at 96 (US=100), that $79,510 has the buying power of about $83,107 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $72,937 · median home $390,238 · median rent $1,538/mo.
How Milwaukee ranks for this job
On raw pay, Milwaukee, WI is 13th of the 187 metros we hold plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters wages for. Once Milwaukee's cost of living is applied, it ranks 14th.
Pay and living costs are roughly in step here, so Milwaukee sits in much the same place whether you look at raw salary or spending power.
What that salary buys in Milwaukee
A median home in Milwaukee, WI costs $390,238 — about 4.9× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,538/mo works out at 23% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Milwaukee.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Milwaukee | Rent vs Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $101,560 | +28% | 1.5× |
| Kennewick, WA | $97,150 | +22% | 1.1× |
| Minneapolis, MN | $96,200 | +21% | 1.1× |
| Duluth, MN | $88,000 | +11% | 0.9× |
Same job elsewhere in WI
| Metro | Median pay | vs Milwaukee | Rent vs Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $80,980 | +2% | 1.1× |
| Appleton, WI | $78,210 | −2% | 0.8× |
| Green Bay, WI | $77,490 | −3% | 0.8× |
Staying in WI keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires plumbers, pipefitters & steamfitters around Milwaukee
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- WEC Energy Group · Energy
Other jobs in Milwaukee
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 187 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.