Salaries in Racine, WI

Here's the thing about Racine that most outsiders get wrong: it’s not a sleepy factory town anymore. With a 2.9% unemployment rate, the job market here is tighter than you'd expect for a city of 76,000. The real surprise isn’t the work—it’s what that work buys you.

Let’s talk purchasing power. The cost of living sits at 95.0, meaning your dollar stretches about 5% further than the national average. A one-bedroom apartment runs you $842 a month. Compare that to the median household income of $55,065, and you start to see the appeal. It’s not San Francisco, but your paycheck doesn’t vanish the second it hits your bank account. The COL-adjusted average salary of $72,018 buys a genuinely comfortable life here—something that feels increasingly rare.

Who’s actually thriving? You’re looking at a few clear winners. The big employers are still the legacy manufacturers like SC Johnson, but the growth is in healthcare (Aurora Medical Center) and the engineering firms supporting the port and wind energy sectors. The data shows the top-paying jobs reflect that: a Construction Manager pulls in a COL-adjusted $112,196, while a Software Developer can command $131,948. My honest take? It’s a fantastic spot for skilled trades and mid-level tech workers who want a house, not a condo.

But here’s the catch: that 21.6% bachelor’s degree rate tells a story. If you don’t have a specific, in-demand skill, wages can feel stagnant. The city’s prosperity isn’t evenly shared. For remote workers who can earn a coastal salary while paying Racine rent, it’s a financial home run. For everyone else, it’s a steady, affordable grind.

The numbers below tell the rest of the story.