Customer Support Specialist salary in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area
For this job the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area sits right at the US figure, with a median of $44,830 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $44,770, and 4.6% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $46,970. Among US areas it comes in at #145 of 520. BLS counts about 2,300 people in this job here, 5% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | $30,810 | $44,830 | $61,690 | |
| Wisconsin | $34,260 | $46,970 | $63,650 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $61,690, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area earns $37,070–$52,000. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $14,930 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($17,820) and the US figure ($14,910).
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 | $30,810 | $2,568 | $14.81 | $39,755 |
| 25th percentile | $37,070 | $3,089 | $17.82 | $47,832 |
| Median | $44,830 | $3,736 | $21.55 | $57,845 |
| 75th percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25.00 | $67,097 |
| 90th percentile | $61,690 | $5,141 | $29.66 | $79,600 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,760 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,170, or about $9,252 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 South Central 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 South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area
At the $44,830 median, a local hire costs about $57,845 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,015 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 $2,5003 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 4.4 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 5.4 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 South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($45,760) and e-commerce order specialists ($44,810). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,460.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +3.2% | 280 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +2.1% | 1,900 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 2,300 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -0.0% | n/a | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -13.3% | 1,530 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #3 of the 17 roles we track in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area (+0.1%), between medical administrative assistants (+0.7%) and e-commerce order specialists (-2.9%). The typical role here is at -7.6%, so, measured against the US, customer support specialists cost more in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Customer support specialists hold 15.6% of the jobs in the 16 of these roles with a job count in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area, 18.2% 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 5 areas in Wisconsin with more customer support specialists than the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area also pay more, among them Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($47,840) and Madison, WI ($47,500).
| Area | Median | vs the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | +2.5% | 1,340 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +2.3% | 3,000 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +2.2% | 1,200 | |
| Appleton, WI | +2.1% | 2,540 | |
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,300 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -2.3% | 530 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -3.5% | 1,990 |
the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area is #160 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Midland and Duluth pay just above the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area and Rochester and Detroit-Warren just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | +0.2% | 1,500 | pay | |
| Midland, TX | +0.1% | 1,340 | pay | |
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,300 | ||
| Rochester, NY | -0.2% | 9,290 | pay | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | -0.2% | 31,310 | pay | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -5.4% | 2,330 | jobs | |
| Amarillo, TX | -13.0% | 2,280 | jobs | |
| Saginaw, MI | -19.4% | 2,320 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro)?
About $57,845 a year at the median, or $4,820 a month: $44,830 in pay plus about $13,015 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do customer support specialists earn in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area?
The median was $44,830 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,810, the 90th $61,690, and the middle half earned $37,070 to $52,000.
Is the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for customer support specialists?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $44,830 against $46,970 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Appleton at $45,760, the next down the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area at $43,780.
How many customer support specialists work in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 2,300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Wisconsin total of 50,840. 5 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Appleton, with about 2,540.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area?
Yes: $20 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,830 and $44,810.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with the South Central 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 $57,845 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.