Milwaukee · Occupational wage benchmark
General and Operations Managers Salary in Milwaukee
What General and Operations Managers actually earn in the Milwaukee metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro estimates for SOC 11-1021; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $125,490
- General and Operations Managers in Milwaukee
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $129,455
- Milwaukee price level 96.9 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #10 of 49
- #9 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 10,480
- in metro Milwaukee
What General and Operations Managers earn in Milwaukee, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Milwaukee moves up 1 place — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $163,860 | $148,393 |
| New York | $157,000 | $139,477 |
| Washington DC | $156,460 | $143,694 |
| San Francisco | $149,990 | $129,735 |
| Hartford | $148,080 | $144,122 |
| Seattle | $146,030 | $131,401 |
| Denver | $142,330 | $134,550 |
| Boston | $133,800 | $123,585 |
| Los Angeles | $125,830 | $110,799 |
| Milwaukee | $125,490 | $129,455 |
| Birmingham | $123,560 | $134,826 |
| Philadelphia | $121,630 | $118,601 |
| Portland | $121,050 | $114,825 |
| Indianapolis | $120,480 | $125,899 |
| Nashville | $119,990 | $124,551 |
| Houston | $119,600 | $121,263 |
| San Diego | $119,600 | $106,894 |
| Sacramento | $118,460 | $111,053 |
| Austin | $117,850 | $120,174 |
| Baltimore | $117,040 | $112,014 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for General and Operations Managers
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,090 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $72,320 | |
| Median (50th) | $105,770 | |
| 75th percentile | $167,280 | |
| 90th percentile | $253,390 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Milwaukee
How to read the Milwaukee number
The $125,490 median means half of General and Operations Managers in the Milwaukee area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 10,480 people in this role in the Milwaukee area. To compare against the state and national picture, see General and Operations Managers nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do General and Operations Managers make in Milwaukee?
General and Operations Managers in the Milwaukee metro area earn a median of $125,490 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +18.6% vs national, ranking Milwaukee #10 of 49 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $125,490 a good salary in Milwaukee?
It depends on local prices. The Milwaukee area price level is 96.9 against a U.S. average of 100, so $125,490 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $129,455 nationally — about $3,965 more than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Milwaukee moves up 1 place — the paycheck stretches further than the nominal figure suggests.
Do General and Operations Managers in Milwaukee need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. General and Operations Managers is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Milwaukee would not be supported by this data.
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