Find a Job You Really Want In
If you’re seeking employment in Wisconsin, you’re in the right place. The job market has evolved significantly, and understanding where to find the best opportunities can make all the difference.
While many might immediately think of Madison as a prime location for job seekers, recent data reveals that it isn’t necessarily the top contender in the state.
At Zippia, we utilize comprehensive data analysis to answer questions like these. We analyzed over 64 locations across Wisconsin to identify the best places to secure a job in 2026.
Here are the top cities in the Badger State for job seekers:
Attention, Merrill! It’s time to learn from other cities in Wisconsin and discover what makes them more attractive for job seekers.
How We Determined the Best Places for Jobs in the Badger State
Our analysis began with extensive research into various locations within Wisconsin. To ensure a fair comparison, we established a minimum population threshold of 5,000 residents.
This allowed us to focus on 64 cities throughout the state.
Each city was evaluated based on a range of criteria, ranked from one to 64, with one being the best. We calculated the average rank across all criteria, awarding the title of “Best Place for Jobs in Wisconsin” to the location with the lowest score.
The criteria we assessed included:
- Unemployment rate
- Recent job growth
- Projected job growth
- Median household income
Our sources for this data include the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Sperling’s Best Places.
If your city isn’t listed in the top 10, scroll to the end of this post for a comprehensive chart and a downloadable file containing all relevant data.
Now, let’s explore how these cities climbed the job rankings.
1. Madison
Population: 234,586 Unemployment Rate: 3.70%
Recent Job Growth: 1.20%
Projected Job Growth: 38.70%
2. Platteville
Population: 11,170 Unemployment Rate: 4.80%
Recent Job Growth: 2.66%
Projected Job Growth: 40.50%
3. Onalaska
Population: 17,740 Unemployment Rate: 4.40%
Recent Job Growth: 1.74%
Projected Job Growth: 39.10%
4. Fitchburg
Population: 25,222 Unemployment Rate: 3.80%
Recent Job Growth: 1.20%
Projected Job Growth: 38.60%
5. Verona
Population: 10,632 Unemployment Rate: 3.80%
Recent Job Growth: 1.20%
Projected Job Growth: 38.60%
6. Waunakee
Population: 12,142 Unemployment Rate: 3.80%
Recent Job Growth: 1.20%
Projected Job Growth: 38.60%
7. Monroe
Population: 10,835 Unemployment Rate: 5.40%
Recent Job Growth: 2.98%
Projected Job Growth: 40.60%
8. Menomonie
Population: 16,192 Unemployment Rate: 5.20%
Recent Job Growth: 2.27%
Projected Job Growth: 39.30%
9. Middleton
Population: 17,589 Unemployment Rate: 3.80%
Recent Job Growth: 1.20%
Projected Job Growth: 38.60%
10. Oregon
Population: 9,269 Unemployment Rate: 3.80%
Recent Job Growth: 1.20%
Projected Job Growth: 38.60%
Complete List of the Best Places in Wisconsin for Jobs
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Madison | 1 |
| Platteville | 2 |
| Onalaska | 3 |
| Fitchburg | 4 |
| Verona | 5 |
| Waunakee | 6 |
| Monroe | 7 |
| Menomonie | 8 |
| Middleton | 9 |
| Oregon | 10 |
In summary, Wisconsin’s job market is thriving, and these cities offer promising opportunities for job seekers in 2026. Whether you’re a recent graduate or looking for a career change, these locations are worth considering as you embark on your job search journey.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
