What home projects cost in Wisconsin
Construction workers in Wisconsin earn $1,532 a week on average, -1.7% against the national $1,559. Because labour is roughly 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, that works out to about -0.8% on the price of a job here.
Biggest difference: ADU, where a typical project runs $1,400 less here than the national figure.
Idaho, lowest Alaska, highest
Wisconsin pays more than 27 of the 51, and the taller notch marks the national average.
| Project | In Wisconsin | National |
|---|---|---|
| Home Addition cost in Wisconsin | $65,100 – $97,700 | $65,600 – $98,400 |
| Bathroom Remodel cost in Wisconsin | $13,600 – $21,200 | $13,700 – $21,400 |
| Basement Finishing cost in Wisconsin | $28,600 – $42,800 | $28,800 – $43,200 |
| Interior Painting cost in Wisconsin | $4,300 – $6,400 | $4,300 – $6,500 |
| Garage Conversion cost in Wisconsin | $25,600 – $41,800 | $25,800 – $42,200 |
| Shower Remodel cost in Wisconsin | $5,100 – $8,300 | $5,150 – $8,350 |
| Flooring Installation cost in Wisconsin | $5,600 – $8,700 | $5,600 – $8,800 |
| ADU cost in Wisconsin | $132,200 – $225,000 | $133,200 – $226,800 |
| Cabinet Refacing cost in Wisconsin | $5,250 – $8,150 | $5,250 – $8,250 |
| Kitchen Remodel cost in Wisconsin | $31,700 – $51,700 | $31,900 – $52,100 |
| Countertop cost in Wisconsin | $2,750 – $4,350 | $2,800 – $4,400 |
| Project | In Wisconsin | National |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Removal cost in Wisconsin | $650 – $1,050 | $650 – $1,050 |
| Window Replacement cost in Wisconsin | $5,650 – $9,250 | $5,700 – $9,300 |
| Roof Replacement cost in Wisconsin | $6,250 – $10,200 | $6,350 – $10,400 |
| Concrete Driveway cost in Wisconsin | $5,000 – $8,100 | $5,000 – $8,200 |
| Retaining Wall cost in Wisconsin | $4,350 – $7,050 | $4,350 – $7,150 |
| Landscaping cost in Wisconsin | $3,950 – $6,750 | $4,000 – $6,800 |
| Pool cost in Wisconsin | $33,100 – $56,300 | $33,400 – $56,800 |
| Exterior Painting cost in Wisconsin | $4,450 – $6,950 | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Siding cost in Wisconsin | $7,250 – $11,300 | $7,300 – $11,400 |
| Asphalt Driveway cost in Wisconsin | $3,500 – $6,000 | $3,550 – $6,050 |
| Fence Installation cost in Wisconsin | $2,800 – $4,650 | $2,800 – $4,700 |
| Gutter Installation cost in Wisconsin | $1,500 – $2,500 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| Concrete Patio cost in Wisconsin | $2,000 – $3,400 | $2,000 – $3,400 |
| Project | In Wisconsin | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mold Remediation cost in Wisconsin | $1,950 – $3,150 | $1,950 – $3,150 |
| Foundation Repair cost in Wisconsin | $5,300 – $8,600 | $5,300 – $8,700 |
| HVAC Replacement cost in Wisconsin | $9,300 – $14,500 | $9,350 – $14,600 |
| Furnace Replacement cost in Wisconsin | $4,500 – $7,400 | $4,550 – $7,450 |
| Well Drilling cost in Wisconsin | $5,300 – $9,400 | $5,350 – $9,450 |
| Chimney Repair cost in Wisconsin | $1,050 – $1,950 | $1,050 – $1,950 |
| Asbestos Removal cost in Wisconsin | $1,700 – $3,100 | $1,700 – $3,100 |
| Water Heater Replacement cost in Wisconsin | $1,200 – $2,000 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
| Crawl Space Encapsulation cost in Wisconsin | $3,900 – $7,000 | $3,950 – $7,050 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade cost in Wisconsin | $1,850 – $3,350 | $1,850 – $3,350 |
| Septic System cost in Wisconsin | $5,650 – $10,500 | $5,650 – $10,500 |
| Basement Waterproofing cost in Wisconsin | $3,650 – $6,850 | $3,700 – $6,900 |
How the Wisconsin figures are worked out
Every range on this page is the national estimate with one adjustment: the labour portion is scaled by what construction actually pays in Wisconsin.
Wages come from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages, NAICS 23 (Construction), private ownership. Wisconsin averages $1,532 a week against $1,559 nationally, an index of 0.983. Applied to a labour share of 45%, that gives a multiplier of 0.992.
What this cannot tell you. It is a state average, and the gap between a metro and a rural county inside Wisconsin is often wider than the gap between states. Materials are treated as national, which is close to true for lumber and shingles and less true where freight is long. Permit costs, local code and how busy contractors are that month move real quotes as much as wages do. Treat this as a starting point and get a written quote.
Questions about Wisconsin costs
- Is home improvement more expensive in Wisconsin?
- Construction wages in Wisconsin run -1.7% against the national average of $1,559 a week. Labour is about 45% of a residential project and materials cost much the same everywhere, so that works out to roughly -0.8% on the price of a job. Wisconsin pays more than 27 of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
- Does the Wisconsin adjustment hit some projects harder than others?
- No. It is a wage adjustment, so it moves every project by the same -0.8%, whether that is a tree removal or an addition. What changes is the dollar amount: ADU moves by about $1,400 while tree removal moves by less than $100. If a contractor tells you one trade is unusually expensive in Wisconsin, that is a local market condition, not something this data can show.
- What is the cheapest home improvement project in Wisconsin?
- Of the 36 projects priced here, tree removal is the least expensive at $650 to $1,050 for a typical job, and ADU is the most at $132,200 to $225,000. Both assume a mid finish level; every calculator lets you change the scope and the finish.
- Are these figures accurate for my city in Wisconsin?
- They are state-level figures and should be read that way. The gap between a metro area and a rural county inside one state is often wider than the gap between two states, and the wage data behind this page does not resolve below the state. Use the range as a starting point for what to expect, then get an on-site quote, which is the only firm number.