Estimated — not yet source-verified.Estimated - not yet source-verified. This cost range is a general knowledge estimate we have not yet confirmed against current regional pricing data. Treat it as a rough guide only and get local contractor quotes.
Contractor costs in Wisconsin
Regional labor cost ranges for common DIY projects in Wisconsin. These are estimates for planning purposes - always get multiple quotes from licensed local contractors.
Construction labor wages in Wisconsin
Official BLS data · OEWS 2024The actual pay range for 20 building trades in Wisconsin — 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile hourly wages straight from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the verified labor-cost floor behind the project estimates below, not a national average.
Scroll the table horizontally to compare all wage columns. Keyboard: focus the table, then use the arrow keys.
| Trade | 10th %ile | Median /hr | 90th %ile | Employed in WI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction supervisors | $26.09 | $39.16 | $57.69 | 13,160 |
| Carpenters | $21.38 | $29.04 | $42.33 | 15,330 |
| Cement masons & concrete finishers | $22.18 | $30.53 | $41.27 | 4,570 |
| Drywall & ceiling-tile installers | $17.75 | $27.88 | $39.45 | 1,440 |
| Tapers | $22.67 | $23.63 | $30.97 | 70 |
| Tile & stone setters | $21.55 | $28.29 | $43.08 | 590 |
| Floor layers (non-carpet) | $21.33 | $29.43 | $41.25 | 590 |
| Floor sanders & finishers | $14.63 | $20.84 | $39.38 | — |
| Carpet installers | $17.53 | $24.68 | $41.85 | 420 |
| Painters | $17.29 | $24.05 | $34.80 | 3,430 |
| Glaziers | $21.26 | $29.30 | $44.97 | 500 |
| Insulation workers | $18.20 | $26.27 | $44.52 | 530 |
| Plasterers & stucco masons | $22.55 | $25.32 | $27.90 | 140 |
| Brickmasons & blockmasons | $22.78 | $37.84 | $47.93 | 790 |
| Roofers | $18.81 | $23.89 | $35.05 | 2,030 |
| Electricians | $22.19 | $36.10 | $47.67 | 12,630 |
| Plumbers & pipefitters | $23.54 | $37.75 | $55.03 | 9,120 |
| HVAC technicians | $22.19 | $29.82 | $46.62 | 5,930 |
| Equipment operators | $23.71 | $34.93 | $46.23 | 8,320 |
| Construction laborers | $17.90 | $24.99 | $37.70 | 19,220 |
How building-trade pay has moved since 2019
Median hourly wage by year for Wisconsin's headline trades — a 6-year OEWS series (2019–2024) that deepens with each annual BLS release.
$23.89 in 2019 → $29.04 in 2024
$29.54 in 2019 → $36.10 in 2024
$32.44 in 2019 → $37.75 in 2024
$19.70 in 2019 → $24.99 in 2024
State-specific BLS wage signals
These comparisons are calculated from the same official OEWS 2024 rows above, so they vary by Wisconsin's actual trade mix instead of repeating a national average. These are worker wages, not contractor billing rates - a contractor's quote adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin.
Highest median wage in state
Construction supervisors
$39.16/hr
Source: BLS OEWS 2024
Largest reported construction trade
Construction laborers
19,220 employed
Source: BLS OEWS 2024
Biggest premium vs trade median
Brickmasons & blockmasons
+$8.17/hr vs $29.67
Median across states with this BLS trade row, OEWS 2024
Fastest median-wage growth
Drywall & ceiling-tile installers
+ 51% since 2019
Source: BLS OEWS 2019-2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS 2019–2024. These are worker wages, not contractor billing rates — a contractor's quote adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin (commonly 1.5–3× the base wage).
Find a contractor in Wisconsin
When a project is beyond DIY scale, get quotes from licensed local contractors. Always verify contractor license status with Wisconsin's contractor licensing board.