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Executive Assistant salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

For this job Milwaukee-Waukesha sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $74,240 a year1. That is 7.7% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $68,920, and 3.1% below the US median of $76,590. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#82 of 509). With about 1,420 executive assistants, 32% of the Wisconsin total, no area in Wisconsin employs more.

$6,187median pay per month in Milwaukee-Waukesha
$7,983employer cost per month with benefits
$800–$1,100per month, remote through Stafka
1,420people in this job in Milwaukee-Waukesha

BLS occupation 43-6011, area Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

Pay in Milwaukee-Waukesha against Wisconsin and the US

Range10thMedian90th
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$52,250$74,240$94,750
Wisconsin$51,250$68,920$93,190
United States$50,560$76,590$109,850
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of executive assistants in Milwaukee-Waukesha earns $60,220–$80,130. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $94,750, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.2 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($72,690) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $19,910 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($19,130) and the US figure ($33,000).

What to budget for an executive assistant here

Point in the local rangePer yearPer monthPer hourEmployer cost per year
10th percentile$52,250$4,354$25.12$67,419
25th percentile$60,220$5,018$28.95$77,703
Median$74,240$6,187$35.69$95,794
75th percentile$80,130$6,678$38.52$103,394
90th percentile$94,750$7,896$45.55$122,258

Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $5,890 over it, while the 25th sits $14,020 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $7,600 more a year with benefits. 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 $76,590 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Milwaukee-Waukesha, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $68,920 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.

What a hire really costs in Milwaukee-Waukesha

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 $21,554 to the $74,240 median and brings it to $95,794 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.

$95,794 local hire in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WImedian wage plus benefits, year one
$14,488 remote hire through Stafka$950/month, placement fee and Deel, year one

Our open executive assistant roles pay $800–$1,100 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.

$95,794local hire, first year incl. benefits
$14,488remote hire, first year incl. fee
$81,306difference in year one
85%of the local cost saved

For the $95,794 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 6.6 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $11,988. 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha

Of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between recruiters ($74,970) and office managers ($73,970). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,350.

The 5 roles closest in pay. All 17 roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
RoleMedianvs executive assistantJobs
Accountant
$80,290
+8.1%7,960
Recruiter
$74,970
+1.0%5,050
Executive Assistant
$74,240
this role1,420
Office Manager
$73,970
-0.4%6,310
Marketing Specialist
$73,880
-0.5%4,610

Measured against the US median, executive assistants rank #11 of the 17 roles we track in Milwaukee-Waukesha (-3.1%), between project coordinators (-1.9%) and HR assistants (-3.9%). The typical role here is at -1.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Executive assistants hold 1.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Milwaukee-Waukesha, 1.6% across Wisconsin and 2.9% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.

Other areas in Wisconsin

Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $57,240 in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area to $75,850 in Oshkosh-Neenah, a gap of $18,610 a year. No other area in Wisconsin has as many executive assistants, and 15 of the other 16 pay less.

AreaMedianvs Milwaukee-WaukeshaJobs
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
$75,850
+2.2%140
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
$74,240
this area1,420
Kenosha, WI
$72,080
-2.9%80
Madison, WI
$70,800
-4.6%950
Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro)
$70,340
-5.3%110
Green Bay, WI
$70,030
-5.7%280
Eau Claire, WI
$68,510
-7.7%100

Milwaukee-Waukesha against other US metro areas

By number of jobs, Milwaukee-Waukesha is #50 of 506 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Wisconsin, Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie and Elmira pay just above Milwaukee-Waukesha and Watertown-Fort Drum and Phoenix-Mesa just below. All four are within $230 a year of the median in Milwaukee-Waukesha. Of the three markets with about as many executive assistants, two pay more.

Metro areaMedianvs Milwaukee-WaukeshaJobsClose in
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
$76,450
+3.0%1,520jobs
Worcester, MA
$75,350
+1.5%1,310jobs
Elmira, NY
$74,270
+0.0%150pay
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY
$74,260
+0.0%1,710pay
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
$74,240
this area1,420
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
$74,090
-0.2%180pay
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
$74,010
-0.3%5,000pay
Columbia, SC
$56,230
-24.3%1,370jobs

Questions

How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?

About $95,794 a year at the median, or $7,983 a month: $74,240 in pay plus about $21,554 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.

What do executive assistants earn in Milwaukee-Waukesha?

Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $74,240 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $52,250, the 90th $94,750, and the middle half earned $60,220 to $80,130.

Is Milwaukee-Waukesha cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for executive assistants?

No, it costs more: a median of $74,240 against $68,920 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Oshkosh-Neenah at $75,850, the next down Kenosha at $72,080.

How many executive assistants work in Milwaukee-Waukesha?

BLS counts about 1,420 in the May 2025 survey. That is 32% of the Wisconsin total of 4,480. No other area in Wisconsin has as many.

Does an executive assistant cost more than an office manager in Milwaukee-Waukesha?

Yes: $270 a year more at the median. The medians are $74,240 and $73,970.

What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with Milwaukee-Waukesha?

Our open roles pay $800–$1,100 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $14,488, against about $95,794 for a local hire at the median.

Sources

4 sources, with links
  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6011: bls.gov
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
  3. Stafka pricing: stafka.com
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.