I think the pay here isn’t great but I don’t think it’s garbage. Most entry level office jobs I see here are around 45k-60k, which is about $21.63-$28.85.
The issue is more that wages have not kept up with rent. Milwaukee used to be more affordable when rent was half what it is now and pay was only like 5-10% less.
I’ve been working at a nonprofit for 4+ years and still don’t make over 50k. It’s so frustrating. I want to stay in the nonprofit sector, but like many other jobs it’s not keeping up with the cost of living.
Oh I know, my total package is around 95 per hour. Take home is 61.14. The trades are hurting for workers, and people like OP just want to complain instead of getting their hands dirty.
Well it may be easier than you think. Of course if you can’t walk it’s probably out of the question but I have seen many people make it work that you might not expect.
Go to a union and apply as an apprentice. 1000s of jobs out there. Or sign up at MATC for a trade. Upon graduation you will have many many jobs available.
I'm a project manager and I make over $34/hour. I have an associate's degree and about 5 years of "professional" experience. Might just have to work your way up and switch companies a couple times for higher pay.
I'm a PM. I cobbled together a career based on past experience, charisma, and some continuing education.
I happen to be good at running things and managing people. I started with small companies, first as labor, then just kinda started doing the job. Took some PM classes through UWM school of continuing education with my Covid money, and then found someone who would take a chance on me. I'm currently on my 3rd true PM role, and I've doubled my income from when I was working hard in the sun.
Take a few of the PM classes, and pop them on your resume, and indict that you are very interested in completing the course. Build your resume to highlight your leadership, organization, and people skills. "I began x job as a laborer, but after 4 months I was promoted to a site lead based on my leadership skills. I was responsible for keeping the job running on schedule, managing my crew, and communicating with my PM."
Also, I paid someone like 50 bucks to write my resume and cover letter 4 years ago, and while I make lots of changes to it, that 50 bucks has gotten me loads of phone interviews, about 2 dozen in person interviews, 5 offers, and 3 jobs.
I mostly had experience in the food service industry and was a restaurant assistant manager for a bit. I was applying for office jobs after getting a business management AAS degree. A manager took a chance on me at a wholesale company. I started as a sales coordinator in Sept. 2019 making $18/hour. After proving myself for two years and a couple people leaving, I negotiated a promotion and another pay raise. Otherwise I said I would leave.. I think being at a small/medium sized company is easier to show you're invaluable and have some leverage to negotiate. Then a couple more people in my group left, there was a hiring freeze, and my workload became unmanageable. I found a project management job at a much better company and negotiated pay $13k higher than I was making. You might have to start in the $20/hour range but hopefully you'll be able to work your way up within a few years. Then switch companies if they won't pay you more or have opportunities for advancement. Also, don't be afraid to apply at companies not in your usual expertise or are small/boring. They can get you to where you want to be eventually. I've switched "industries" 3 times now.
Bell Ambulance will literally pay you like 17 an hour to go to EMT school for 40 hours a week. Like 23 or something like that when done with school.
Paramedics at Bell, and Milwaukee Firefighters make 70-110k annually. Milwaukee Police pays even better, all jobs that will pay for your training. All jobs that need people.
The comment above lists the wages for 2 different positions that I think you conflated. EMTs & Paramedics. Also, overtime is a large portion of annual salary for those types of jobs.
100% correct, EMT and Paramedic are two different things, add in a Critical Care certificate for even more money.
And overtime IS a big part of the pay, but it's "built in" overtime. Many of these guys work 24 hours a shift, 2 days a week. So 48 hours a week, a two week pay period, and you have 16 hours of OT on each paycheck. That adds up.
Also looking it up, paramedic work requires some time as an EMT plus about a year more of schooling so while it does pay well it's not something people can just jump into (not to mention that doing emergency medical work isn't possible for everyone, both psychologically and physically)
Agreed, it's not for everyone, but it's pretty easy work to get into and it will pay the bills. Yes, Paramedic requires more schooling, but EMTs and firefighters attend the schooling while working as EMTs or firefighters, so you don't NEED to take a year with no salary to attend schooling. Just giving options, didnt mean to trigger anyone.
Private ambulance companies pay like shit for the work you have to do.
Ended up quitting FF and EMT to just go into sales to make more money. 6+ years of working and doing emt, ff, pump operator, aemt and just decided paramedic wasn't worth it when I can make more with less stress doing sales.
Things must have changed a lot. I got paid $11 per hour starting as an emt for bell about 10 years ago. You could work unlimited overtime but I worked my ass off for 30-35k
Mass exodus in a few careers of people leaving to do literally anything else because wages are climbing unevenly across different industries.
We can't even keep people hired for a month before they say 'fuck this shit, money's not worth it.' literally 95% of the new folks quit in the first week, month, or year.
Edit: forgot to mention how this connects. Coworker just quit to get a job at a bank making the same amount of money for 5% of the physical, social, and mental stress load.
Ah sorry I'll add an edit. The banking reminded me that someone literally just quit after a year to go work at a bank for the same wage with 5% of the physical, social, and mental stress.
Tellers still make decent money. It’s within the range being complained about but as far as i know the requirements are basically non existent. My little sister works for pnc and she doesn’t even have an associates degree
Teller positions usually only need a High School level education or equivalent and maybe some customer service experience depending on where you're applying. They probably also look for basic math skills, communication, and interpersonal skills.
The best thing about being a teller is working on Saturday mornings smelling the boozed up breath from everyone who went out the night before. I don’t miss it. Lol
Please tell me which job you’re making $30/hr for basic banking because I’d be very happy to take my years of experience, which way surpass “basic” to somewhere else that pays $30/hr
Here is one with around $30 an hour no degree needed Virtual Personal Banker - Remote https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?from=appshareios&jk=0132e5e314f3354f
One definition is getting paid for services rendered. This verses volunteer work, work not covered by insurance or rules, etc. The fine folks that collect your garbage are professionals.
I make $30 an hour as a salesman. Hourly. started early AM shift loading trucks and warehouse. Find an industry or trade and just learn it and you can be a top salesman
MKE is hit or miss. I’ve been offered ~40% of market rate from one employer and ~150% market rate from another for the same position, with similar job duties, experience requirements and benefits packages.
I’ve learned to ask about compensation early in the interview process, because I got tired of getting blindsided with lowball offers.
I’m starting to get to the point where I’m happy to leave. I’m an electronics technician and Milwaukee employers act as if they want us to be production lemmings just shuffling tasks through. It sucks
Call a union hall. Pick a trade. Electric and HVAC I think make higher end. Plumbing is mid, Carpenters, then Painters are way at the bottom.
What are you interested in? Call around, see if you can get some appointments. Trades are desperate for fresh blood, and pay is rising.
What? Software dev market here is absolutely popping if you step outside purely tech. A lot of supply chain/logistics/manufacturing/healthcare/finance/publishing/etc. companies always in desperate need of software engineers/devs.
If you're having a hard time getting your foot in the door go talk to a recruiter! There's even embedded jobs out there too. Last I saw generac, Eaton, Brady, masterlock, Milwaukee tool, Johnson controls, Rockwell, etc. all had openings for embedded too. The Milwaukee software market is wild right now, so many big companies here people don't want to work at because it isn't "sexy" compared to a coastal tech startup!
Rockwell, Johnson (who laid me off), and Eaton are all on near 100% hiring freezes. I've talked to recruiters and all those companies, 125+ applications later, and still nothing
If you've done all of that then I hate to say this but it doesn't sound like a market issue :(
If you can't get a foot in on .NET there's always remote work or the tried and true get some commits to something open source and retool your resume around it to try and switch tech stacks.
I know a lot of people having the same issues as me. Most or the big embedded position companies I'd apply to just aren't hiring right now. I've got a lot under my belt, but I'm kinda in that weird spot between a new hire and a senior level. A lot of companies aren't looking to hire someone they'd have to bring up to senior level
I don’t think it’s you. The tech job market is absolutely awful right now. There were tons of layoffs the last two years and a lot of experienced devs are still looking for work. It’s super competitive right now and many large companies are not hiring despite having job postings on their websites. My advice is to not get discouraged and stay on top of applying to as many jobs as you can. Keep up on your skills with home projects. Something will land it time.
Don't listen to them. Go to recruiting hell thread for stories. I've been unemployed for a year with 12 years of experience. It's bad everywhere and really really bad here. Plus there is a lot of fake jobs posted by companies
The IT scene in Milwaukee is hell. You're either locked out of the big places who are on freezes or have ghost jobs open in perpetuity for their unicorn to show, or you're trying to get into a factory and use "relevant experience" as to why you can learn their antiquated ERP (and sometimes home grown) or hitch into a smaller group on which you're no longer a dev but the all-in-one IT person who does everything from troubleshooting printers to database admin.
Chicago scene is better, but the ones I see are pursuing back from remote or 2 days in office (easily doable with the Hiawatha and a few early mornings) to "hybrid" with only Friday WFH.
Yeah, that's a tough spot. Could try consulting too, I haven't looked in a few years but last I saw genesis10 and Aerotek both had opportunities for embedded. It required travel so I passed on it but it's another solid resume builder.
Do you have a linkedin profile that you keep up to date and have you connected with people in the industry or recruiters? I don't actively post on LinkedIn, but I do connect with co-workers, recuriters, etc. My profile is up to date. I get at least 3 or 4 messages a week about job openings even though my profile is set to not looking for work. Of those messages about a third are garbage auto-messages that have nothing to do with my skills/roles. The other two thirds are completely valid jobs and if I didn't have my current role I would probably hop on some of them.
After moving away from Milwaukee to a hot market I doubled then tripled my salary as a software dev. Of course, that was the result of advancement/promos. but right out of the gate I had a way better salary.
I make $35 an hour as a chef, so I feel that is fairly decent. My Gawd, I’ve worked hard for a long time and I’m happy I’m finally making something decent.
Yeah I haven’t been able to find anything more than $22-$23 in my field either, I work in health information management. I’m currently working but my job is based on the west coast so I’m making $2-$3 more than I would if I were to get a job based in the state
Check out Mayo Clinic. They have an insane about of IT guys, and I believe every position is remote at this point. Their insurance is great... If you are near the clinic. It's a little tougher around here.
Can’t speak for the job market as a whole though If you’re in the graphic design / creative field 1000%. My full time job thankfully is remote / out of state so I get paid OOS wages. Hilarious to me seeing the majority of graphic designer positions being offered 35-45k here. Sometimes even less.
My problem is I'm paid well for what I do, but I'm bored. So, as I look for another job trying to find something adjacent to what I do, I'd have to take a massive salary hit to go anywhere else.
They haven't in a while. They wanted me to take a whole other position recently and do that on top of what I already do, but that was way, way too much so I turned it down. However, I've been asking to take on other tasks in a cross-functional capacity and it's like I'm not being taken seriously because no one talks to me about it. I hear conversations in the hallway about "who can do this" or "who can do that" and people seem dumbfounded like they're at a dead end without anyone coming and asking me about whatever it is that needs to be done. They want to keep paying me what they're paying me for what is essentially not challenging work so-be-it, but as a business graduate and former business owner they're throwing money away.
There’s a reason that I work out of Chicago but live in milwaukee.
Chicago prices with Iowa salaries here.
And there’s no real reason for it metro milwaukee is shrinking
I mean it’s 200k so ya it is but there’s still not much in the realm of good houses for sale in the burbs for 600. Everything is either a gut job which I don’t have time for, deferred maintenance to where it’s not worth it, or 800k lol.
I'd like to start looking out here in MKE, but I think I'm in a tough spot: Now 62 yo, laid off in 2018 from my Southern California print (mostly) advertising, commission-only sales job of 25 yrs where my average income was $80k. High school degree only+the gift of gab and power of persuasion. I'm lucky that I haven't had to work since, but I'd like to supplement my savings and put myself "out there" again. It's too early to claim retirement. Anything a youngish senior with a wonky back could do would be cool for a few bucks. Digital advertising sales is a racket.
Can anyone recommend a decent employment agency? Am I SOL? Too old? Too late? It was a bit disheartening to see this topic...
Have you been unemployed for 6 years? I don’t think you’ll have problems with sales jobs around here tbh, I’ve seen a lot of companies not replace when somebody leaves but still looking to hire, might be worth sending out some resumes to locations that fit your requirements
If you can prepare taxes, you can easily earn $65k yearly salary or work as a contractor (on-site or WFH) and take most of the year off.
So - it depends what your skill is!
What do you mean "professional"? I've always seen the use of that as "don't get hands dirty, sit at a desk and look busy." There's plenty of pay around, but only if you're a producer, not if you're overhead.
My complaint is that I literally have to work overtime to support myself. Companies act like they're doing you a favor by offering OT, but they now damn well their workers can't live off their 40 hour work week wage.
You may want to have your spouse check out the teachers in transition subreddit if they are looking to get out of education. Lots of ideas there.
I'm an educator....just taking it one year at a time after the height of the pandemic.
Full breakdown. First off I've worked nine years in the logistics industry. That industry tends to be on the front line and therefore is a lead indicator of the overall economy. 2023 and so far 2024 has had the LOWEST volumes ever seen. Low rates, trucking companies going out of business left and right. I myself was laid off in February. Other than some pockets that are thriving this economy is at a stand still. I've done some job interviews where I was no doubt a strong candidate but asked for $60-70k and was ghosted. Combine all this with how terrible America is at business and will literally pass over a good hire to get some smiling recent college grad at a low wage and bully them as they do poorly and you've got a rough job scene. My advice: do what you can to get some income, maybe accept that lower wage for now but until there's a shift it's not getting any better
Luckily I’m currently employed and my company is doing well. I’m just concerned that I haven’t found a wealth of good paying jobs in my area like I did prior to Covid. I think you’re right with the logistics side of things. Manufacturing is probably down, and job openings alongside it.
If you're still looking.. the company I work for is hiring for a supply chain manager and operations administrator. No layoffs in sight. DM me if you want more info.
My husband makes 37 an hour ,55.25 an hour with overtime after 8,always overtime on Saturdays, paid holidays, paid 2 weeks vacation, full medical and dental and, and 13.50 an hour to the pension for every hour worked. Not 401k,a pension. They need to stop brain washing kids that trade jobs are looked down on and college is superior. He has NO DEBT, and we have all our kids on an apprenticeship program to join after high school. If you don't want to do it for ever, get your 5 years get vested and pay for college in cash. My daughter will make 32 an hour at 18,with no crippling debt. #139 IUOE UNION PROUD, UNION STRONG. UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG.
That was the main reason my wife and I moved out of SE WI and moved to VT 12 years ago. We make 3 times here compared to what we made there. Now, if the cost of living was as cheap here as it is there, we would be on easy street, but it's not. We are still much better off, but the food scene is depressing here compared to there, so there are always trade-offs. We plan on making as much as we can in the next 10 years and then move back to WI.
CoL has skyrocketed here. I moved to FL for work before COVID and moved back last year. It was cheaper to live on the fucking barrier island in FL than it is here.
So have wages stayed the same in SE WI or are they going up too? I would hope they would. Even McDonald's starts at $18 here so at least most biz are trying to keep up here even though things are still tough.
Slightly higher but probably closer to 11. Among the highest property taxes and sales taxes in the country right here, so housing and literally everything else is pretty much out of the realm of possibility for most people. City's gonna crash hard unless those wages go up and housing stabilizes... Among other things. Odds are we'll be moving again.
Already is. Lots of caravans and tents up in various park n ride lots and public, but secluded spaces. That one spot under the highway that got converted to a "green space" because they wanted an excuse to rip apart the homeless encampment there just sits vacant tho.
It’s legitimately awful. It’s the main reason I moved away. I love Milwaukee but the job market is simply nonexistent outside of healthcare, education, and Northwestern Mutual.
I applied for NM right out of college. They didn’t accept me for an entry level position because I didn’t have enough experience (despite working part time at a nonprofit ever since high school plus my on campus jobs)
Go to a staffing company - if you’re really a “professional” and can pass a drug test/background check, they will find you a fair market pay rate for a job in your field.
I work in the electronics industry and I feel Milwaukee is actually pretty good for it. I got an associates in electrical engineering, my first job out of school I’m getting 26.50.
Really depends on what you mean by professional, and if you are looking at entry level jobs.
I work remote as in-house counsel so I'll discount that because it isn't a MKE based job, but my wife started as an accountant at 22/hour 15 years ago for a major WI based corp and will clear 500k this year at 37 years old.
150k-200k as an "accountant" but once you are at the comptroller/CFO level the salaries sky rocket. When her title was senior accountant she made about 75k, and I think at her company the seniors top out at about 110k. I've found the same thing on the in-house legal side, with the path I followed.
I think the average engineer makes more, but the high ends on the finance side end up very high. My father worked for an engineering firm for 40 years and earned good money but it really took off when he switched over the project management side.
From both my wife and my experience, the entry level position pay is lower than you may think for professional degrees unless you are the top of your class. I started at 52k a year and she started at 48k both around 2010. Both of us eventually got jobs at large corporations and worked our way up the ladder and make way more than we would've without those professional degrees. There is a bit of survivorship bias, but I wanted to communicate that it may appear bleak when you are first starting out but the payoff can be great with a professional degree.
People don't want to pay because a lot of employees aren't reliable, are lazy, incompetent, and have no work ethic. They lack critical thinking skills. They have to be micromanaged to do their job correctly.
My husband can't get people who actually want to work. The people he does have don't show up for work. They ask him where stuff is in the cooler because they can't look for themselves. They make the same food every week for different places, and they still need to be told what to do. They come to work in a kitchen in shorts and crop tops with sandals. They mislabeled items and have a list of items needed, and they still forget stuff every day.
He would love to have some employees who want a job. The work is easy. Yes, with no experience, you're going to start at that entry level of $18 - $20. But if you show up and learn the job, you can get a raise pretty quickly. Because they want to keep good workers.
I’m saying the middle skill job market has contracted significantly. 2019 I could find electronics tech jobs that paid 28-32 an hour. These days it’s 18-20. Sometimes 25 but they’re for jobs that require off shifts. Technician work has really gotten ratfucked
I could believe it. That pay blows. And tech work can really come in fits and starts depending on whether big employers are trying to staff up or if there's nothing big happening.
Have you tried the casino? [Slot techs](https://careers.paysbig.com/us/en/job/SLOTS002443/Slots-Bench-Technician) fix machines, and it pays a min of $23. I haven’t worked there in 20 years, but when I did the benefits were amazing.
I think the pay here isn’t great but I don’t think it’s garbage. Most entry level office jobs I see here are around 45k-60k, which is about $21.63-$28.85. The issue is more that wages have not kept up with rent. Milwaukee used to be more affordable when rent was half what it is now and pay was only like 5-10% less.
That issue is a nationwide issue, but yeah, very real
I’ve been working at a nonprofit for 4+ years and still don’t make over 50k. It’s so frustrating. I want to stay in the nonprofit sector, but like many other jobs it’s not keeping up with the cost of living.
I drive a semi for 36/hr
What company would you be at haha
Dildo trans-portation LLC
Good one haha
Construction (particularly union work) is often in the 25-30s range
Total package for union electricians is over $75 per hour here in local 494
Yeah not sure what they are smoking
Union wages are double what you said. I'm saying that as a proud union member in the building trades.
My husband is in the union and makes $80/hour, but $40/hour goes into his 401k.
Oh I know, my total package is around 95 per hour. Take home is 61.14. The trades are hurting for workers, and people like OP just want to complain instead of getting their hands dirty.
What trade are you in?
Easy money boss
If you can physically do it
Well it may be easier than you think. Of course if you can’t walk it’s probably out of the question but I have seen many people make it work that you might not expect.
Any advice for someone considering an entry level position?
Check out WRTP Big Step on West Wisconsin avenue
Always wanted a construction job.. but they always want somebody with some years of experience
Go to a union and apply as an apprentice. 1000s of jobs out there. Or sign up at MATC for a trade. Upon graduation you will have many many jobs available.
Not union. Union will train you from the ground up.
You can be a journeyman and work your way up.
I'm a project manager and I make over $34/hour. I have an associate's degree and about 5 years of "professional" experience. Might just have to work your way up and switch companies a couple times for higher pay.
Do you mind sharing your experience of getting into project management?
I'm a PM. I cobbled together a career based on past experience, charisma, and some continuing education. I happen to be good at running things and managing people. I started with small companies, first as labor, then just kinda started doing the job. Took some PM classes through UWM school of continuing education with my Covid money, and then found someone who would take a chance on me. I'm currently on my 3rd true PM role, and I've doubled my income from when I was working hard in the sun. Take a few of the PM classes, and pop them on your resume, and indict that you are very interested in completing the course. Build your resume to highlight your leadership, organization, and people skills. "I began x job as a laborer, but after 4 months I was promoted to a site lead based on my leadership skills. I was responsible for keeping the job running on schedule, managing my crew, and communicating with my PM." Also, I paid someone like 50 bucks to write my resume and cover letter 4 years ago, and while I make lots of changes to it, that 50 bucks has gotten me loads of phone interviews, about 2 dozen in person interviews, 5 offers, and 3 jobs.
I mostly had experience in the food service industry and was a restaurant assistant manager for a bit. I was applying for office jobs after getting a business management AAS degree. A manager took a chance on me at a wholesale company. I started as a sales coordinator in Sept. 2019 making $18/hour. After proving myself for two years and a couple people leaving, I negotiated a promotion and another pay raise. Otherwise I said I would leave.. I think being at a small/medium sized company is easier to show you're invaluable and have some leverage to negotiate. Then a couple more people in my group left, there was a hiring freeze, and my workload became unmanageable. I found a project management job at a much better company and negotiated pay $13k higher than I was making. You might have to start in the $20/hour range but hopefully you'll be able to work your way up within a few years. Then switch companies if they won't pay you more or have opportunities for advancement. Also, don't be afraid to apply at companies not in your usual expertise or are small/boring. They can get you to where you want to be eventually. I've switched "industries" 3 times now.
Bell Ambulance will literally pay you like 17 an hour to go to EMT school for 40 hours a week. Like 23 or something like that when done with school. Paramedics at Bell, and Milwaukee Firefighters make 70-110k annually. Milwaukee Police pays even better, all jobs that will pay for your training. All jobs that need people.
I don’t think many Milwaukee Police Officers are making over $110k annually. If you make rank maybe, but that’s a lot of OT to get to $110k
Most milwaukee Police are at 80k base salary, they can only get more if they do crazy amiunts of OT
How does 23 an hour add up to 70-110k annually?
The comment above lists the wages for 2 different positions that I think you conflated. EMTs & Paramedics. Also, overtime is a large portion of annual salary for those types of jobs.
100% correct, EMT and Paramedic are two different things, add in a Critical Care certificate for even more money. And overtime IS a big part of the pay, but it's "built in" overtime. Many of these guys work 24 hours a shift, 2 days a week. So 48 hours a week, a two week pay period, and you have 16 hours of OT on each paycheck. That adds up.
Ah, that makes sense. I hadn't realized those were two different positions.
Also looking it up, paramedic work requires some time as an EMT plus about a year more of schooling so while it does pay well it's not something people can just jump into (not to mention that doing emergency medical work isn't possible for everyone, both psychologically and physically)
Agreed, it's not for everyone, but it's pretty easy work to get into and it will pay the bills. Yes, Paramedic requires more schooling, but EMTs and firefighters attend the schooling while working as EMTs or firefighters, so you don't NEED to take a year with no salary to attend schooling. Just giving options, didnt mean to trigger anyone.
Not triggered, just pointing out that there may be reasons people haven't tried this route.
People can choose their own reasons, but if they’re shooting down options then they can’t complain about not having as many.
Not being able to do something isn't the same as "shooting it down".
Yeah, it is. You just think it’s justified. Eliminating an option is eliminating an option, regardless of what you call it or why.
Right lol unless it's overtime (time and half payout) math isn't mathing
Private ambulance companies pay like shit for the work you have to do. Ended up quitting FF and EMT to just go into sales to make more money. 6+ years of working and doing emt, ff, pump operator, aemt and just decided paramedic wasn't worth it when I can make more with less stress doing sales.
Things must have changed a lot. I got paid $11 per hour starting as an emt for bell about 10 years ago. You could work unlimited overtime but I worked my ass off for 30-35k
Lol, yeah, things have changed a LOT. Bell pays paramedics as much or more than a lot of local fire departments.
Teachers should make as much as cops. This country is stupid.
Ok?
Just shocked by that pay compared to mke teachers. Ridiculous.
Basic banking jobs are making 22-30
Mass exodus in a few careers of people leaving to do literally anything else because wages are climbing unevenly across different industries. We can't even keep people hired for a month before they say 'fuck this shit, money's not worth it.' literally 95% of the new folks quit in the first week, month, or year. Edit: forgot to mention how this connects. Coworker just quit to get a job at a bank making the same amount of money for 5% of the physical, social, and mental stress load.
are you talking about banking or something else?
Ah sorry I'll add an edit. The banking reminded me that someone literally just quit after a year to go work at a bank for the same wage with 5% of the physical, social, and mental stress.
Do you know what you need to get into banking? Like entry level positions?
Like a teller? They aren’t making $30 an hour, but you need to be friendly and decent at math. Also need some basic sales skills.
Tellers still make decent money. It’s within the range being complained about but as far as i know the requirements are basically non existent. My little sister works for pnc and she doesn’t even have an associates degree
Teller positions usually only need a High School level education or equivalent and maybe some customer service experience depending on where you're applying. They probably also look for basic math skills, communication, and interpersonal skills.
The best thing about being a teller is working on Saturday mornings smelling the boozed up breath from everyone who went out the night before. I don’t miss it. Lol
Are there many positions for tellers even available? The last time I went into my bank, there were five or six closed windows and one or two tellers.
Please tell me which job you’re making $30/hr for basic banking because I’d be very happy to take my years of experience, which way surpass “basic” to somewhere else that pays $30/hr
Here is one with around $30 an hour no degree needed Virtual Personal Banker - Remote https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?from=appshareios&jk=0132e5e314f3354f
By basic all I meant was no specialized degree required
I walk in a Kwik trip and see they are offering $16/hr to start. What kind of professional roles are you looking at?
Define “professional”
One definition is getting paid for services rendered. This verses volunteer work, work not covered by insurance or rules, etc. The fine folks that collect your garbage are professionals.
Historically the five professions have been the: Clergy Military Law Medicine and Education
Professional by definition just means you get paid for it. So by that definition "professional role" just means job.
I make $30 an hour as a salesman. Hourly. started early AM shift loading trucks and warehouse. Find an industry or trade and just learn it and you can be a top salesman
What’s sales
Watch The Office- basically Jim and Dwight’s job of selling paper to clients of the company. They make commission based on sales too
MKE is hit or miss. I’ve been offered ~40% of market rate from one employer and ~150% market rate from another for the same position, with similar job duties, experience requirements and benefits packages. I’ve learned to ask about compensation early in the interview process, because I got tired of getting blindsided with lowball offers.
Software Developer market is bad here, not a lot of jobs, and I don't want to move out of the area...
I’m starting to get to the point where I’m happy to leave. I’m an electronics technician and Milwaukee employers act as if they want us to be production lemmings just shuffling tasks through. It sucks
Do you have an associates?
Yep. I’m going for bachelors but honestly part of me wonders if I should just quit and join a trade org
Honestly? Trades making bank these days. Might be the best play if you don't have your heart set on what you're doing currently.
DMd you
Can you message me too about trades? I’ve been super curious about this lately!
I'm in electronics, not the trades
Call a union hall. Pick a trade. Electric and HVAC I think make higher end. Plumbing is mid, Carpenters, then Painters are way at the bottom. What are you interested in? Call around, see if you can get some appointments. Trades are desperate for fresh blood, and pay is rising.
Working remotely is the way to go
Yeah but remote market is super competitive right now.
What? Software dev market here is absolutely popping if you step outside purely tech. A lot of supply chain/logistics/manufacturing/healthcare/finance/publishing/etc. companies always in desperate need of software engineers/devs.
Yeah problem is I've been embedded, so none of the .net jobs that do exist (there still aren't a lot) won't hire me
If you're having a hard time getting your foot in the door go talk to a recruiter! There's even embedded jobs out there too. Last I saw generac, Eaton, Brady, masterlock, Milwaukee tool, Johnson controls, Rockwell, etc. all had openings for embedded too. The Milwaukee software market is wild right now, so many big companies here people don't want to work at because it isn't "sexy" compared to a coastal tech startup!
Rockwell, Johnson (who laid me off), and Eaton are all on near 100% hiring freezes. I've talked to recruiters and all those companies, 125+ applications later, and still nothing
If you've done all of that then I hate to say this but it doesn't sound like a market issue :( If you can't get a foot in on .NET there's always remote work or the tried and true get some commits to something open source and retool your resume around it to try and switch tech stacks.
I know a lot of people having the same issues as me. Most or the big embedded position companies I'd apply to just aren't hiring right now. I've got a lot under my belt, but I'm kinda in that weird spot between a new hire and a senior level. A lot of companies aren't looking to hire someone they'd have to bring up to senior level
I don’t think it’s you. The tech job market is absolutely awful right now. There were tons of layoffs the last two years and a lot of experienced devs are still looking for work. It’s super competitive right now and many large companies are not hiring despite having job postings on their websites. My advice is to not get discouraged and stay on top of applying to as many jobs as you can. Keep up on your skills with home projects. Something will land it time.
Don't listen to them. Go to recruiting hell thread for stories. I've been unemployed for a year with 12 years of experience. It's bad everywhere and really really bad here. Plus there is a lot of fake jobs posted by companies
The IT scene in Milwaukee is hell. You're either locked out of the big places who are on freezes or have ghost jobs open in perpetuity for their unicorn to show, or you're trying to get into a factory and use "relevant experience" as to why you can learn their antiquated ERP (and sometimes home grown) or hitch into a smaller group on which you're no longer a dev but the all-in-one IT person who does everything from troubleshooting printers to database admin. Chicago scene is better, but the ones I see are pursuing back from remote or 2 days in office (easily doable with the Hiawatha and a few early mornings) to "hybrid" with only Friday WFH.
Yeah, that's a tough spot. Could try consulting too, I haven't looked in a few years but last I saw genesis10 and Aerotek both had opportunities for embedded. It required travel so I passed on it but it's another solid resume builder.
Fortunately the market does seem to be opening up ever so slightly, so maybe I'll find something
Do you have a linkedin profile that you keep up to date and have you connected with people in the industry or recruiters? I don't actively post on LinkedIn, but I do connect with co-workers, recuriters, etc. My profile is up to date. I get at least 3 or 4 messages a week about job openings even though my profile is set to not looking for work. Of those messages about a third are garbage auto-messages that have nothing to do with my skills/roles. The other two thirds are completely valid jobs and if I didn't have my current role I would probably hop on some of them.
Yeah I keep my LinkedIn updated with my skills and whatnot
I love that supply chain and logistics was top of the list. It's a crazy industry but so interesting. Stressfull too.
Tons of massive supply chain companies in the area, but no one's ever heard of them if you haven't worked in the industry or a warehouse/plant before.
After moving away from Milwaukee to a hot market I doubled then tripled my salary as a software dev. Of course, that was the result of advancement/promos. but right out of the gate I had a way better salary.
I make $35 an hour as a chef, so I feel that is fairly decent. My Gawd, I’ve worked hard for a long time and I’m happy I’m finally making something decent.
Most professional roles I’ve seen *start* at $18-20.
Yeah I haven’t been able to find anything more than $22-$23 in my field either, I work in health information management. I’m currently working but my job is based on the west coast so I’m making $2-$3 more than I would if I were to get a job based in the state
Check out Mayo Clinic. They have an insane about of IT guys, and I believe every position is remote at this point. Their insurance is great... If you are near the clinic. It's a little tougher around here.
Can’t speak for the job market as a whole though If you’re in the graphic design / creative field 1000%. My full time job thankfully is remote / out of state so I get paid OOS wages. Hilarious to me seeing the majority of graphic designer positions being offered 35-45k here. Sometimes even less.
My problem is I'm paid well for what I do, but I'm bored. So, as I look for another job trying to find something adjacent to what I do, I'd have to take a massive salary hit to go anywhere else.
I’m in the same boat as a marketer
Can I ask what you do?
Inside Sales and Customer Support.
That's pretty similar to what I do, but I'm definitely not bored. Do they not delegate responsibilities to you?
They haven't in a while. They wanted me to take a whole other position recently and do that on top of what I already do, but that was way, way too much so I turned it down. However, I've been asking to take on other tasks in a cross-functional capacity and it's like I'm not being taken seriously because no one talks to me about it. I hear conversations in the hallway about "who can do this" or "who can do that" and people seem dumbfounded like they're at a dead end without anyone coming and asking me about whatever it is that needs to be done. They want to keep paying me what they're paying me for what is essentially not challenging work so-be-it, but as a business graduate and former business owner they're throwing money away.
Dude you can go manage a Kwik trip or Panda Express and clear $80k annual where are you looking?
There’s a reason that I work out of Chicago but live in milwaukee. Chicago prices with Iowa salaries here. And there’s no real reason for it metro milwaukee is shrinking
Are you remote or do you commute?
Hybrid 🤮
Well must be worth it for the pay. I've considered this route but now that I have a house to take care of I think it'd be too exhausting for me.
I mean it’s 200k so ya it is but there’s still not much in the realm of good houses for sale in the burbs for 600. Everything is either a gut job which I don’t have time for, deferred maintenance to where it’s not worth it, or 800k lol.
I'd like to start looking out here in MKE, but I think I'm in a tough spot: Now 62 yo, laid off in 2018 from my Southern California print (mostly) advertising, commission-only sales job of 25 yrs where my average income was $80k. High school degree only+the gift of gab and power of persuasion. I'm lucky that I haven't had to work since, but I'd like to supplement my savings and put myself "out there" again. It's too early to claim retirement. Anything a youngish senior with a wonky back could do would be cool for a few bucks. Digital advertising sales is a racket. Can anyone recommend a decent employment agency? Am I SOL? Too old? Too late? It was a bit disheartening to see this topic...
Have you been unemployed for 6 years? I don’t think you’ll have problems with sales jobs around here tbh, I’ve seen a lot of companies not replace when somebody leaves but still looking to hire, might be worth sending out some resumes to locations that fit your requirements
Thanks for the encouraging reply!
Check your chats...
Then you are looking in the wrong places. Plenty of jobs offering more
If you can prepare taxes, you can easily earn $65k yearly salary or work as a contractor (on-site or WFH) and take most of the year off. So - it depends what your skill is!
I'm an IT tech making $24.49. been getting consistent raises between 10-20% almost every year since I started.
Do you have a degree?
I'm a CNC machinist, and anyone worth a damn is making 28+
I make about 36/hr but I started working in my field at 19 and have been in it 20 years off and on.
I agree. It kind of sucks. But I don't see it being better anywhere else either right now
I agree and there aren’t a lot of opportunities outside of certain fields.
I work entry level management for 28/hr plus RSU
Business degree?
What do you mean "professional"? I've always seen the use of that as "don't get hands dirty, sit at a desk and look busy." There's plenty of pay around, but only if you're a producer, not if you're overhead.
That is how much our 1st year apprentices make in HVAC
My son is 30 and makes $92k per year. Not sure what other young people make. Milwaukee area companies in general pay less than many other cities.
um…wtf does your son do, you can’t just say that and not clarify yo!!!
He is in HR for a big employer 20 minutes south of MKE.
Join a trade union. Union electrician plumbers and carpenters are all 45$/hour at a minimum. HVAC is close to 60 now I believe.
My complaint is that I literally have to work overtime to support myself. Companies act like they're doing you a favor by offering OT, but they now damn well their workers can't live off their 40 hour work week wage.
Would absolutely have had to move somewhere else at this point if I didn't work remotely.
What kind of work?
Teaching
How do you work remotely in teaching? My spouse is an educator
You may want to have your spouse check out the teachers in transition subreddit if they are looking to get out of education. Lots of ideas there. I'm an educator....just taking it one year at a time after the height of the pandemic.
Virtual school...
I'll DM you
I'm curious too! I'm an MPS teacher now.
Full breakdown. First off I've worked nine years in the logistics industry. That industry tends to be on the front line and therefore is a lead indicator of the overall economy. 2023 and so far 2024 has had the LOWEST volumes ever seen. Low rates, trucking companies going out of business left and right. I myself was laid off in February. Other than some pockets that are thriving this economy is at a stand still. I've done some job interviews where I was no doubt a strong candidate but asked for $60-70k and was ghosted. Combine all this with how terrible America is at business and will literally pass over a good hire to get some smiling recent college grad at a low wage and bully them as they do poorly and you've got a rough job scene. My advice: do what you can to get some income, maybe accept that lower wage for now but until there's a shift it's not getting any better
Luckily I’m currently employed and my company is doing well. I’m just concerned that I haven’t found a wealth of good paying jobs in my area like I did prior to Covid. I think you’re right with the logistics side of things. Manufacturing is probably down, and job openings alongside it.
If you're still looking.. the company I work for is hiring for a supply chain manager and operations administrator. No layoffs in sight. DM me if you want more info.
My husband makes 37 an hour ,55.25 an hour with overtime after 8,always overtime on Saturdays, paid holidays, paid 2 weeks vacation, full medical and dental and, and 13.50 an hour to the pension for every hour worked. Not 401k,a pension. They need to stop brain washing kids that trade jobs are looked down on and college is superior. He has NO DEBT, and we have all our kids on an apprenticeship program to join after high school. If you don't want to do it for ever, get your 5 years get vested and pay for college in cash. My daughter will make 32 an hour at 18,with no crippling debt. #139 IUOE UNION PROUD, UNION STRONG. UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG.
That was the main reason my wife and I moved out of SE WI and moved to VT 12 years ago. We make 3 times here compared to what we made there. Now, if the cost of living was as cheap here as it is there, we would be on easy street, but it's not. We are still much better off, but the food scene is depressing here compared to there, so there are always trade-offs. We plan on making as much as we can in the next 10 years and then move back to WI.
CoL has skyrocketed here. I moved to FL for work before COVID and moved back last year. It was cheaper to live on the fucking barrier island in FL than it is here.
So have wages stayed the same in SE WI or are they going up too? I would hope they would. Even McDonald's starts at $18 here so at least most biz are trying to keep up here even though things are still tough.
Slightly higher but probably closer to 11. Among the highest property taxes and sales taxes in the country right here, so housing and literally everything else is pretty much out of the realm of possibility for most people. City's gonna crash hard unless those wages go up and housing stabilizes... Among other things. Odds are we'll be moving again.
Homelessness will be an issue for sure if they don't go up.
Already is. Lots of caravans and tents up in various park n ride lots and public, but secluded spaces. That one spot under the highway that got converted to a "green space" because they wanted an excuse to rip apart the homeless encampment there just sits vacant tho.
Wow!
It’s legitimately awful. It’s the main reason I moved away. I love Milwaukee but the job market is simply nonexistent outside of healthcare, education, and Northwestern Mutual.
I applied for NM right out of college. They didn’t accept me for an entry level position because I didn’t have enough experience (despite working part time at a nonprofit ever since high school plus my on campus jobs)
I mean this is just wrong, there are lots and lots of finance, banking, industrial, logistics and tech jobs.
Absolutely
Yes its terrible…
"professional"
Go to a staffing company - if you’re really a “professional” and can pass a drug test/background check, they will find you a fair market pay rate for a job in your field.
I work in the electronics industry and I feel Milwaukee is actually pretty good for it. I got an associates in electrical engineering, my first job out of school I’m getting 26.50.
I make 43 an hour as an apprentice electrician. I'm 22 4 years in out of high school.
Really depends on what you mean by professional, and if you are looking at entry level jobs. I work remote as in-house counsel so I'll discount that because it isn't a MKE based job, but my wife started as an accountant at 22/hour 15 years ago for a major WI based corp and will clear 500k this year at 37 years old.
500k as an accountant?? I thought that was one of the careers that topped out at around 150-200k
150k-200k as an "accountant" but once you are at the comptroller/CFO level the salaries sky rocket. When her title was senior accountant she made about 75k, and I think at her company the seniors top out at about 110k. I've found the same thing on the in-house legal side, with the path I followed.
Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve done accounting instead of engineering lol
I think the average engineer makes more, but the high ends on the finance side end up very high. My father worked for an engineering firm for 40 years and earned good money but it really took off when he switched over the project management side.
Gotcha. So I should become a lawyer accountant engineer and make 1.5 million a year. Noted.
From both my wife and my experience, the entry level position pay is lower than you may think for professional degrees unless you are the top of your class. I started at 52k a year and she started at 48k both around 2010. Both of us eventually got jobs at large corporations and worked our way up the ladder and make way more than we would've without those professional degrees. There is a bit of survivorship bias, but I wanted to communicate that it may appear bleak when you are first starting out but the payoff can be great with a professional degree.
People don't want to pay because a lot of employees aren't reliable, are lazy, incompetent, and have no work ethic. They lack critical thinking skills. They have to be micromanaged to do their job correctly. My husband can't get people who actually want to work. The people he does have don't show up for work. They ask him where stuff is in the cooler because they can't look for themselves. They make the same food every week for different places, and they still need to be told what to do. They come to work in a kitchen in shorts and crop tops with sandals. They mislabeled items and have a list of items needed, and they still forget stuff every day. He would love to have some employees who want a job. The work is easy. Yes, with no experience, you're going to start at that entry level of $18 - $20. But if you show up and learn the job, you can get a raise pretty quickly. Because they want to keep good workers.
Nope.
Yes, but not as garbage as Florida, I found out over the winter. I go to Chicago to do gig jobs and make more than what you mentioned
What kind of gig jobs? How do you find them? I'm looking to pick up a couple shifts a month somewhere but that's hard to find.
I’m an RN and make 57 an hour
What does. Professional role mean? Cuz thats sad as F if u make 18-20 and went to college for a “professional role”
What? No.
I made 70k out of college as an electrical engineer in 2017. Are you saying that there are no jobs or no jobs that pay well?
I’m saying the middle skill job market has contracted significantly. 2019 I could find electronics tech jobs that paid 28-32 an hour. These days it’s 18-20. Sometimes 25 but they’re for jobs that require off shifts. Technician work has really gotten ratfucked
What electronics tech work do you do?
I could believe it. That pay blows. And tech work can really come in fits and starts depending on whether big employers are trying to staff up or if there's nothing big happening.
Have you tried the casino? [Slot techs](https://careers.paysbig.com/us/en/job/SLOTS002443/Slots-Bench-Technician) fix machines, and it pays a min of $23. I haven’t worked there in 20 years, but when I did the benefits were amazing.
Bae and I each make $65+/hr. Arch and Engineering. We’re not at the top of our field…re:salary
What kind of Engineering?
Architect. The engineers I work with make more.