Salaries in Green Bay, WI
What every job actually pays โ cost-of-living adjusted
Updated: February 2026 ยท 40 occupations ยท BLS + Census data
You'd be wrong to think of Green Bay as just a football town with a side hustle. The real story here is a surprisingly robust job market hiding in plain sight, with an unemployment rate of just 2.9% that tells you something's clicking.
Let's talk real dollars. With a cost of living index of 92.1โmeaning everything's about 8% cheaper than the national averageโyour paycheck goes noticeably further. That median household income of $66,950 feels more like $73,000 when you factor in the low cost of living. A one-bedroom apartment averaging $841 a month is a financial relief valve you just don't get in most cities this size.
So who's winning here? Itโs not just the Packers. Youโve got major regional players like Bellin Health and Schreiber Foods anchoring the healthcare and food production sectors. But the real surprise is the tech and professional services growth. The median salary here is $67,466, but for the top earnersโthink marketing managers and software developersโadjusted salaries push past $130,000. Thatโs serious purchasing power in a place where your housing costs are so low.
Hereโs my honest take: Green Bay works beautifully if youโre in the right fields. The catch is that the lower-wage sectors havenโt kept pace with the cost-of-living creep, even here. Itโs a fantastic city for skilled professionals, but you need to be in one of those top-paying roles to truly feel the financial advantage.
The data below breaks down exactly where those opportunities are and what you can expect to earn.
๐ Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Green Bay
Ranked by raw salary. See COL-adjusted figures in the full table below.
Marketing Manager
Pharmacist
Software Developer
Construction Manager
Project Manager
๐ Complete Salary Guide โ All 40 Occupations in Green Bay
COL-Adjusted Salary = Raw salary divided by the cost of living index (92/100). Higher = more real purchasing power. This city's COL is below the US average.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics. COL Index from C2ER/ACCRA.
๐๏ธ Living Costs in Green Bay
๐งฎ Can You Afford to Live in Green Bay?
Use our Salary Reality Check to see if your specific income covers housing, taxes, and expenses in Green Bay. Enter your salary and see exactly how far your money goes.
โ Green Bay Salary FAQ
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๐ Editor's Verdict: Is Green Bay Worth It?
Bottom line: Green Bay is a financial yes, but not for everyone. With an average salary of $67,466 and a cost-of-living index of 92.1, your money stretches further than in most citiesโespecially when rent is averaging $841/month. The standout here is marketing: itโs the rare field where you can earn top-tier pay ($153,884) while enjoying a better quality of life, even after adjusting for COL ($167,084). For the right person, thatโs a sweet spot.
Who wins here? Skilled trades, healthcare workers, and marketing pros. Tech salaries lag behind what youโll find in larger metros, so if youโre a developer chasing a big payday, you might feel shortchanged. But if youโre in healthcare or the trades, demand is steady and your paycheck goes a lot further.
My advice: Line up a job before you pack. Green Bayโs job market is stable, but itโs not huge. If you have a solid offer in hand, youโll do wellโjust donโt expect to hop jobs easily if things donโt work out.