SOC 13-2011

Accountant & Auditor Salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + WI
COL Index: 100.48 (+0.5% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 73.0% Realized
$58,585 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $80,290 $38.60/hr
Effective Tax Drag 21.03% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$16,888 $649.53/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $38.60 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$4,817/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,060/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$7,774
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$4,978
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,164
Wisconsin Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$2,972
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$58,585 ($2,253.26 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Accountant & Auditor Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $80,290
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $60.3k 25th $66.7k Median: $80,290 50th (Median) $80.3k 75th $103k 90th $132k You: $80,290
10th (Entry) $60,340 $29.01/hr
25th (Junior) $66,720 $32.08/hr
50th (Median) $80,290 $38.60/hr
75th (Senior) $102,840 $49.44/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $132,150 $63.53/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Accountant & Auditor in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
1
Staff AccountantBachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$53,731$25.83/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Senior AccountantDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; CPA license
$64,286$30.91/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Accounting ManagerFull professional competence; leads projects or a small team; CPA license
$80,309$38.61/hr · 5-9 Years
4
Corporate ControllerOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$105,352$50.65/hr · 9-14 Years
5
Vice President of FinanceExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$138,262$66.47/hr · 14+ Years
Scaled to the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI medianView National Accountant & Auditor Salary Data
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Financial Managers+$82,890/yr
National median: $166,570
Skill overlap: 94%View Salary
Financial Examiners+$10,480/yr
National median: $94,160
Skill overlap: 93%
Tax Preparers-$28,760/yr
National median: $54,920
Skill overlap: 93%
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks-$33,010/yr
National median: $50,670
Skill overlap: 89%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
22% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,060/month Requires minimum annual gross of $42,400
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,263/month Requires minimum annual gross of $50,520
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.22/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $22.33/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$80,290-$16,888$58,585$2,253.26
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$95,344-$21,993$67,631$2,601.19
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$110,399-$27,098$76,677$2,949.13
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$125,453-$32,202$85,723$3,297.06
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$140,508-$37,513$94,564$3,637.08
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Accountant & Auditor in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Wisconsin tax codes.

Market Baseline
$80,290/yr
$38.60/hr · SOC 13-2011
Statutory Tax Drag
21.03% Effective
-$16,888 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
22% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$3,822/mo
Post-$1,060/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 13-2011
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Accountant & Auditor in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: Market Snapshot

Accountant & Auditor roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI report a median annual wage of $80,290, 4.1% below the national median of $83,680. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $60,340 to $132,150, and HUD’s $1,060 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 15.8% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.22 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Accountant & Auditor

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$121,700+51.6%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$110,730+37.9%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$105,650+31.6%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$102,140+27.2%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$102,020+27.1%
Midland, TX$100,890+25.7%
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV$100,420+25.1%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$100,150+24.7%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$100,020+24.6%
Boulder, CO$99,990+24.5%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$216,240$103.96/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$161,220$77.51/hr
Financial Manager$156,100$75.05/hr
Data Engineer$148,020$71.16/hr
Advertising and Promotions Managers$144,960$69.69/hr
Sales Managers$144,560$69.50/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$143,570$69.02/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$140,170$67.39/hr
Human Resources Managers$136,530$65.64/hr
Physician Assistant$135,040$64.92/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 393 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Accountant & Auditor Salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (2026) Overview

Accountant & Auditor median pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI is $80,290 a year ($38.60/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents. Official 2026 economic data for Accountant & Auditor in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for an Accountant & Auditor in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

The median annual wage is $80,290 ($38.60 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $60,340 and $132,150. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for an Accountant & Auditor in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI after taxes?

On the median wage of $80,290, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $62,056 a year ($5,171 a month) after $18,234 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 22.71%, using 2026 tax rules.