Kitchen remodel cost in Milwaukee, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $18,100 – $30,800
- Per sq ft
- $147 – $244
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #107
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Milwaukee area: $18,100 to $30,800 for 120 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Milwaukee, WI, standard level
$21,900 to $27,000
About $176 to $215 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 23% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $5,050 | $6,200 |
| Permits and fees | $780 | $1,150 |
| Total | $21,900 | $27,000 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Milwaukee, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 73% |
| Labor | $4,200 | $5,600 | $7,000 | 23% |
| Permits and fees | $480 | $970 | $1,450 | 4% |
| Total | $18,100 | $24,400 | $30,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Milwaukee number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.73 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Milwaukee is 1.13 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 23% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Milwaukee is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $17,800 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.9: $480 to $1,450.
How Milwaukee compares
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Kenosha is the priciest of the group at $26,500. Racine is the cheapest at $24,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WIthis page | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | |
| Racine, WI10 miles | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | −1% |
| Kenosha, WI20 miles | $19,700 – $33,400 | $26,500 | +9% |
| Sheboygan, WI55 miles | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | level |
| Janesville, WI65 miles | $18,400 – $31,200 | $24,800 | +1% |
| Rockford, IL70 miles | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | +3% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $18,000 – $30,700 | $24,300 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Milwaukee ranks #107 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Milwaukee is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $18,100 – $30,900 | $24,500 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | −1% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +3% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,100 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Milwaukee against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | −1% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | −3% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −3% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Milwaukee
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Milwaukee. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (100 sq ft) to large kitchen (300 sq ft).
Basic
$18,100 to $23,200
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,900 to $27,000
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,700 to $30,800
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $15,100 – $19,400 | $18,400 – $22,700 | $21,600 – $25,900 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $18,100 – $23,200 | $21,900 – $27,000 | $25,700 – $30,800 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,800 – $38,000 | $36,000 – $44,200 | $42,100 – $50,300 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $44,500 – $56,600 | $53,600 – $65,700 | $62,600 – $74,800 |
Planning more than one job in Milwaukee?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Milwaukee wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+11%) and window replacement lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $14,400 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +6% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,600 – $14,900 | level |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $40,500 – $81,900 | +6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,050 | +11% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,550 | +2% |
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Milwaukee
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
Permit
Kitchen remodel permits are $500-$1,500 and are usually based on project value.
Scope
A full kitchen update is $15,000-$50,000, a large remodel $50,000-$70,000+, and a partial refresh $60-$150 per square foot (HomeGuide).
Who does the work: Milwaukee trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Milwaukee the blend is 1.13.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $30.73 an hour, 6% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.48 and $39.60 an hour. About 3,310 work in the metro. That is 40.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $37.41 an hour, which is 23% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.48 and $47.39 an hour. BLS counts 4,490 of them working in the area, 54.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% of the weighting: a median of $40.72 an hour, 33% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.98 and $51.92 an hour. About 2,760 work in the metro. That is 33.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.85 an hour, 15% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $28.36 and $36.45 an hour. About 120 work in the metro. That is 1.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.23 an hour, which is 3% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $23.14 and $33.85 an hour. BLS counts 340 of them working in the area, 4.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $24.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.06 and $29.33 an hour. About 1,140 work in the metro. That is 13.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $680 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $330. That is a swing of roughly 1.3% to 2.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Milwaukee-Waukesha has 820,780 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 38th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $26.48 | $30.73 | $39.60 | $29.12 | 1.06 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $27.48 | $37.41 | $47.39 | $30.38 | 1.23 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $29.98 | $40.72 | $51.92 | $30.67 | 1.33 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $28.36 | $30.85 | $36.45 | $26.77 | 1.15 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.14 | $29.23 | $33.85 | $28.33 | 1.03 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $23.06 | $24.34 | $29.33 | $23.75 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Milwaukee: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Milwaukee?
For 120 sq ft, expect $18,100 to $30,800 in the Milwaukee area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,900 to $27,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Milwaukee?
About $147 to $244 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $480 to $1,450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Milwaukee or Racine?
Racine is 10 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,300, which is 1% less than Milwaukee ($24,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Milwaukee?
About 23% at the midpoint, or $5,600 out of $24,400. Materials are 73% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Milwaukee?
$29,800 to $50,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Milwaukee?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $480 to $1,450 for fees in the Milwaukee area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Milwaukee expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Milwaukee is 0% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($24,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Milwaukee?
The BLS median is $30.73 an hour in the Milwaukee area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.48 to $39.60.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Milwaukee?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $18,100 to $23,200 and premium work $25,700 to $30,800. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Milwaukee
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 70% of the low installed price and 85% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that professional labor is 15-30% of a kitchen remodeling budget. Cost to Renovate's mid-range kitchen split (45% labor, 50% materials) sits inside that band.