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Mechanical Engineer Salary in Wisconsin

Wisconsin pays mechanical engineers a mean of $102,980 per year, 26th in the nation, but with strong real purchasing power after COL adjustment. The state employs 8,400 mechanical engineers, with heavy equipment, power generation, and dairy processing as the dominant industries.

Data as of May 2026, sourced from BLS OES May 2024 (SOC 17-2141).

WI Mean Wage

$102,980

vs national $101,560 (+1.4%)

WI Employment

8,400

balanced across 5 metros

COL-Adjusted

$111,935

WI COL 92 vs national 100

An industrial-heritage labor market

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics tables for SOC 17-2141, May 2024 release, report a Wisconsin annual mean wage of $102,980 for 8,400 employed engineers. The state ranks 26th nationally, just above the national mean of $101,560 on nominal pay, but produces materially higher real purchasing power after COL adjustment.

Wisconsin's ME labor market is more diversified than its industrial-heritage reputation suggests. Milwaukee-Waukesha is heavy industry: Harley-Davidson HQ and powertrain (the only US-headquartered motorcycle manufacturer at scale), Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare ultrasound, Briggs and Stratton, and Modine. Madison is power generation and consumer products: Generac (the largest residential standby-generator manufacturer in the US), Lands End operations, plus the UW-Madison research orbit. Oshkosh and Appleton are defense and electronics: Oshkosh Defense produces the JLTV (replacing the Humvee) and the new USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle, plus Plexus electronics manufacturing. Green Bay is paper and food: Procter and Gamble, Schreiber Foods, Georgia-Pacific.

Metro-by-metro pay

Metro	Mean Wage	MEs Employed	Driver Employers
Milwaukee, Waukesha	$108,400	3,700	Harley-Davidson HQ and powertrain, Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare ultrasound, Briggs and Stratton, Modine Manufacturing.
Madison	$105,200	1,100	Generac (power generation), Lands End operations, plus UW-Madison mechanical engineering research orbit.
Green Bay	$96,400	720	Procter and Gamble paper, Schreiber Foods, Schneider National logistics, plus Georgia-Pacific containerboard.
Appleton, Oshkosh	$102,800	1,400	Oshkosh Defense (HMMWV, JLTV), Plexus electronics manufacturing, plus Kimberly-Clark Neenah.
Racine, Kenosha	$99,800	480	Case IH agricultural equipment, SC Johnson HQ, Snap-on Tools, plus the Wisconsin-Illinois border manufacturing.

The cost-of-living math, honestly

Wisconsin housing costs run materially below the national average outside Madison. Using Regional Price Parities published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state runs around 92, with Madison the highest at 99 and the smaller metros from 89 to 95.

Metro	Nominal Pay	COL Index	Adjusted
Milwaukee, Waukesha	$108,400	95	$114,105
Madison	$105,200	99	$106,263
Green Bay	$96,400	89	$108,315
Appleton, Oshkosh	$102,800	90	$114,222
Wisconsin state average	$102,980	92	$111,935

Appleton-Oshkosh is the standout: $102,800 nominal at COL 90 produces $114,222 in adjusted purchasing power, beating Boston, Seattle, and San Jose in real terms by 25 to 35 percent. The smaller absolute labor market means fewer openings, but the cost-of-living tradeoff is dramatic.

PE licensing in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services administers PE licensure under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 443. The path is ABET-accredited BS, FE exam, four years of qualifying experience under a licensed PE, then the PE exam. Wisconsin's application fee is $75, biennial renewal is $40, and the NCEES PE exam fee runs around $375. PE licensure adds significant compensation in the Milwaukee consulting and HVAC market. It adds no material premium at Harley-Davidson, Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare, or Oshkosh Defense because the work product is not signed under the engineer's seal.

Frequently asked questions

How much do mechanical engineers make in Wisconsin?+

Wisconsin mechanical engineers earn a mean of $102,980 per year and a median hourly wage of $49.51, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2024. The state employs 8,400 mechanical engineers, with heavy equipment manufacturing, power generation, and dairy processing as the dominant industries.

Which Wisconsin metro pays mechanical engineers the most?+

Milwaukee-Waukesha leads at a mean of $108,400 for 3,700 employed engineers, anchored by Harley-Davidson HQ and powertrain, Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare ultrasound, Briggs and Stratton, and Modine Manufacturing. Madison follows at $105,200 for 1,100 engineers, dominated by Generac (the largest residential standby-generator manufacturer in the US).

Is Wisconsin mechanical engineering pay worth it after cost of living?+

Yes. Wisconsin produces above-national-mean adjusted purchasing power in every major metro. Milwaukee at $108,400 with COL 95 adjusts to $114,105. Madison at $105,200 with COL 99 adjusts to $106,263. Appleton-Oshkosh at $102,800 with COL 90 adjusts to $114,222. The state is one of the better real-purchasing-power markets for MEs in the US.

What is the Oshkosh Defense premium?+

Oshkosh Defense in Oshkosh produces HMMWVs, the JLTV (replacing the Humvee), and the new USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle. Engineers there typically earn $5,000 to $10,000 above the local commercial-manufacturing scale because of the DOD contracting cost structure. Active security clearance adds another $3,000 to $8,000. The Oshkosh Corporation is the largest single-site ME employer in northeast Wisconsin.

Do mechanical engineers need a PE license to work in Wisconsin?+

Most product engineering, manufacturing, and hardware roles do not require a PE license. The license is mandatory for engineers who sign off on building HVAC, structural mechanical, or public infrastructure designs under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 443. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services administers licensing. The Wisconsin application fee is $75 plus an exam fee set by NCEES (around $375).

What is the entry-level mechanical engineer salary in Wisconsin?+

Entry-level mechanical engineers in Wisconsin (0 to 2 years experience) typically earn $61,000 to $76,000. Milwaukee-area Rockwell Automation, GE Healthcare, and Harley-Davidson new-grad offers cluster around $66,000 to $80,000 base. Oshkosh Defense, Generac, and Caterpillar Belgium (Wisconsin operations) cluster around $68,000 to $82,000 base.

All 50 States Ranked

Parent hub: every state plus DC, ranked.

Minnesota

Twin Cities medtech cluster: $109,650 mean.

Illinois

Chicago manufacturing and Caterpillar Peoria.

Michigan

Detroit auto cluster: $104,720 mean.

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Fees and timeline for all 50 state PE boards.

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