Software Engineer salary in Milwaukee, WI
Based on 665 certified H-1B filings in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Waukesha, Brookfield, Franklin, Menomonee Falls, Wauwatosa.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $93,116 |
| 25th | $96,491 |
| 50th (median) | $115,000 |
| 75th | $135,000 |
| 90th | $153,895 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $91,582 | $76,000 | $107,619 | 812 |
| FY2021 | $97,800 | $82,000 | $115,856 | 665 |
| FY2022 | $104,386 | $86,000 | $119,738 | 699 |
| FY2023 | $105,000 | $88,123 | $125,000 | 434 |
| FY2024 | $117,300 | $94,400 | $133,977 | 393 |
| FY2025 | $117,810 | $94,950 | $135,308 | 408 |
| FY2026 | $114,200 | $96,500 | $135,000 | 257 |
Cost of living
Milwaukee's median Software Engineer salary of $115,000 is worth about $118,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Milwaukee = 96.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Milwaukee, WI area earned a median of $123,730 in May 2025 (6,170 employed). The H-1B median here is $115,000, 7% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | $134,934 | 75 |
| FIS Management Services | $117,810 | 37 |
| U.S. Bank National Association | $123,600 | 23 |
| Ge Precision Healthcare | $138,250 | 22 |
| Quest Global Services- | $83,040 | 18 |
| LTIMindtree | $96,492 | 14 |
| Rockwell Automation | $151,156 | 14 |
| Capgemini America | $122,449 | 12 |
| Ge Medical Systems | $132,500 | 12 |
| Johnson Controls | $131,373 | 12 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $79,520 | 70 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,564 | 236 |
| Senior · Level III | $123,600 | 161 |
| Expert · Level IV | $142,342 | 164 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $75,525 | $79,520 | 70 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $94,307 | $96,564 | 236 |
| Senior · Level III | $113,922 | $123,600 | 161 |
| Expert · Level IV | $131,373 | $142,342 | 164 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.