Cost of hiring a customer support specialist in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Budget above the national rate here. The median customer support specialist in Milwaukee-Waukesha earned $47,840 a year in May 2025[1], 1.9% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $46,970 and 6.9% above the US median of $44,770. Nationally that is #50 of 520 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Wisconsin: about 14,080 people, 28% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $33,910 | $47,840 | $66,390 | |
| Wisconsin | $34,260 | $46,970 | $63,650 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $66,390, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in Milwaukee-Waukesha earns $38,720–$58,480.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,910 | $2,826 | $16.30 | $48,443 |
| 25th percentile | $38,720 | $3,227 | $18.62 | $55,314 |
| Median | $47,840 | $3,987 | $23.00 | $68,343 |
| 75th percentile | $58,480 | $4,873 | $28.12 | $83,543 |
| 90th percentile | $66,390 | $5,532 | $31.92 | $94,843 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,120 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $10,640, or about $15,200 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Milwaukee-Waukesha
At the $47,840 median, a local hire costs about $68,343 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $20,503 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $68,343 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 5.1 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha
Of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha, this one ranks #14 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,350 and Data Entry Specialist the lowest at $39,650.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +109.8% | 6,790 | |
| Accountant | +67.8% | 7,960 | |
| Recruiter | +56.7% | 5,050 | |
| Executive Assistant | +55.2% | 1,420 | |
| Office Manager | +54.6% | 6,310 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +54.4% | 4,610 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +35.6% | 6,830 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +26.5% | 690 | |
| Paralegal | +26.1% | 1,880 | |
| Bookkeeper | +6.4% | 6,750 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.7% | 610 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.5% | 2,220 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +1.3% | 7,930 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 14,080 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -0.8% | 310 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.3% | 7,200 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -17.1% | 620 |
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $43,240 in Oshkosh-Neenah to $48,360 in Kenosha, a gap of $5,120 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Milwaukee-Waukesha | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | +1.1% | 1,000 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | this area | 14,080 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | -0.3% | 900 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -0.7% | 530 | |
| Madison, WI | -0.7% | 7,120 | |
| Green Bay, WI | -2.0% | 3,670 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | -2.2% | 1,130 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About $68,343 a year at the median, or $5,695 a month: $47,840 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
The median was $47,840 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,910, the 90th $66,390, and the middle half earned $38,720 to $58,480.
Is Milwaukee-Waukesha cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for customer support specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $47,840 against $46,970 statewide. Kenosha pays the most ($48,360) and Oshkosh-Neenah the least ($43,240).
How many customer support specialists work in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
BLS counts about 14,080 in the May 2025 survey. That is 28% of the Wisconsin total of 50,840.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Yes: $370 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,840 and $47,470.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with Milwaukee-Waukesha?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $68,343 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.