PA Salary

Milwaukee vs Racine: Physician Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare physician assistant salaries between Milwaukee, WI and Racine, WI. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Milwaukee, WI
$139,523
$67.08/hr
Racine, WI
$138,748
$66.70/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMilwaukee, WIRacine, WI
Median Salary$139,523$138,748
Hourly Rate$67.08$66.70
Entry Level (P10)$100,313$118,022
25th Percentile$131,692$135,008
75th Percentile$166,428$158,937
Top Earner (P90)$174,983$160,828
Total Employed1,22050
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Milwaukee ($139,523) and Racine ($138,748) physician assistant salaries.MilwaukeeRacineMedian Salary$139,523$138,748Entry Level (P10)$100,313$118,022Top Earner (P90)$174,983$160,828US Median $140,391

Verdict

Milwaukee, WI offers better overall compensation for physician assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Racine.

The salary gap between Milwaukee and Racine is $775 (0.56%). Milwaukee's median is -0.62% compared to the US national median of $140,391.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Milwaukee spans $74,670,Racine spans $42,806. Milwaukee has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Milwaukee
P10 (Entry)$100,313
P25$131,692
Median$139,523
P75$166,428
P90 (Top)$174,983
Racine
P10 (Entry)$118,022
P25$135,008
Median$138,748
P75$158,937
P90 (Top)$160,828

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Racine ($144,588 effective) pays 0.46% more than Milwaukee ($143,932 effective).

Milwaukee
Nominal: $139,523
CoL Index: 96.937
Adjusted: $143,932
Racine
Nominal: $138,748
CoL Index: 95.961
Adjusted: $144,588

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Milwaukee if…

  • Higher median salary ($139,523/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($174,983)
  • Larger job market (1,220 employed)
  • You prefer the Wisconsin area and lifestyle

Choose Racine if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $144,588)
  • You prefer the Wisconsin area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, physician assistant salaries in Milwaukee grew 16.7% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 20.6% growth in Racine over the same period.

Milwaukee, WI

+16.7%

$115,680 (2019) → $135,040 (2025)

Racine, WI

+20.6%

$111,360 (2019) → $134,290 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays physician assistants more: Milwaukee or Racine?

Milwaukee has a higher median physician assistant salary at $139,523/year, compared to Racine at $138,748/year — a difference of $775 (0.56%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Milwaukee and Racine?

Milwaukee physician assistants earn $67.08/hr while Racine hygienists earn $66.70/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Milwaukee to Racine as a physician assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Milwaukee and Racine. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Milwaukee = $143,932, Racine = $144,588), job availability (1,220 vs 50 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level physician assistants earn in Milwaukee vs Racine?

Entry-level (10th percentile) physician assistants earn $100,313 in Milwaukee and $118,022 in Racine. The Racine area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JT

Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C

Career Analyst

Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Chen, PA-CData verified by Amina Patel, MSPAS, PA-C

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.32% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov