Expert Software Engineer salary in Milwaukee, WI
Based on 164 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $131,373 |
| 25th | $131,950 |
| 50th (median) | $142,342 |
| 75th | $155,548 |
| 90th | $166,796 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $115,000 | $107,619 | $122,150 | 138 |
| FY2021 | $125,000 | $115,856 | $133,000 | 109 |
| FY2022 | $125,000 | $117,686 | $135,000 | 141 |
| FY2023 | $135,000 | $123,343 | $150,000 | 95 |
| FY2024 | $139,101 | $128,354 | $150,000 | 104 |
| FY2025 | $144,000 | $133,959 | $154,800 | 99 |
| FY2026 | $141,500 | $131,373 | $156,700 | 65 |
Cost of living
Milwaukee's median expert Software Engineer salary of $142,342 is worth about $146,800 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 $142,342, 15% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company | $145,538 | 29 |
| Ge Precision Healthcare | $147,050 | 12 |
| Ge Medical Systems | too few | 8 |
| Johnson Controls | too few | 8 |
| Rockwell Automation | too few | 8 |
| U.S. Bank National Association | too few | 7 |
| Generac Power Systems | too few | 6 |
| Kohls | too few | 6 |
| Regal Rexnord | too few | 5 |
| Briggs & Stratton | too few | 4 |
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.