Customer Support Specialist salary in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
The median customer support specialist in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area earned $45,850 a year in May 20251. That is 2.4% above the US median of $44,770, even though it is 2.4% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $46,970. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#102 of 520). About 3,000 customer support specialists work here, 6% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | $33,280 | $45,850 | $61,980 | |
| Wisconsin | $34,260 | $46,970 | $63,650 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
The middle half of customer support specialists in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area earns $38,580–$52,630. The top tenth earns $61,980 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,050 wide, against $17,820 across Wisconsin and $14,910 nationally: employers in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
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 | $33,280 | $2,773 | $16.00 | $42,942 |
| 25th percentile | $38,580 | $3,215 | $18.55 | $49,781 |
| Median | $45,850 | $3,821 | $22.04 | $59,161 |
| 75th percentile | $52,630 | $4,386 | $25.30 | $67,910 |
| 90th percentile | $61,980 | $5,165 | $29.80 | $79,974 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,270 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,780, or about $8,748 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.
For scale, the US median of $44,770 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $46,970 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $13,311 to the $45,850 median and brings it to $59,161 a year. 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 $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 4.5 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 5.5 times the remote figure of $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($46,500) and administrative assistants ($45,300). Project Coordinator is the highest at $95,680.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +3.6% | 120 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.4% | 340 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 3,000 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -1.2% | 1,830 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -12.2% | 2,160 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area (+2.4%), between virtual receptionists (+5.9%) and medical administrative assistants (+1.2%). The typical role here is at -9.7%, so, measured against the US, customer support specialists cost more in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Customer support specialists hold 18.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, 18.1% across Wisconsin and 16.4% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. All 3 areas in Wisconsin with more customer support specialists than the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area also pay more, among them Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($47,840) and Madison, WI ($47,500).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | +0.8% | 1,110 | |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +0.7% | 1,460 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | +0.2% | 1,340 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 3,000 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | -0.1% | 1,200 | |
| Appleton, WI | -0.2% | 2,540 | |
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -2.2% | 2,300 |
the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area is #125 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Wisconsin, Eugene-Springfield and Chico pay just above the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area and Glens Falls and St. Louis just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | +0.3% | 600 | pay | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | +0.1% | 1,570 | pay | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 3,000 | ||
| Glens Falls, NY | -0.0% | 650 | pay | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -0.1% | 23,760 | pay | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | -1.4% | 3,020 | jobs | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -12.9% | 3,040 | jobs | |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | -16.3% | 3,030 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro)?
About $59,161 a year at the median, or $4,930 a month: $45,850 in pay plus about $13,311 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $45,850 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,280, the 90th $61,980, and the middle half earned $38,580 to $52,630.
Is the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for customer support specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,850 against $46,970 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Eau Claire at $45,930, the next down La Crosse-Onalaska at $45,820.
How many customer support specialists work in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 3,000 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Wisconsin total of 50,840. 3 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Green Bay, with about 3,670.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than an administrative assistant in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
Yes: $550 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,850 and $45,300.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
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 $59,161 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.