Milwaukee’s Tech Employment Totals 33,800
Milwaukee’s Tech Industry Pays $67,200 on Average

Oakbrook Terrace, IL (June 24, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation's Top 60 Cities. This detailed report tracks trends in high-tech employment, wages, establishments, payroll, employment concentration, and wage differential at the metropolitan level.

The high-tech industry in Milwaukee employed 33,800 in 2006, according to the most current metropolitan data available. These are high paying jobs, and the average tech worker in Milwaukee earned $67,200, or 61 percent more then the average private sector wage of $41,900.

Computer systems design and related services is the leading sector in Milwaukee employing 7,300, followed by internet services with 4,900 employees in 2006.

“The high-tech industry is important to Milwaukee, but there is still room for growth,” said Australian born Robert Parry, CEO of ZBB Energy Corporation located in Menomonee Falls (Waukesha County). “A strong tech industry depends on a highly skilled workforce and we have some exceptional graduates from our local colleges and universities. In addition to encouraging our children to pursue degrees in math and science, we need to take advantage of the best and the brightest from around the world. These high-skilled immigrants fill a critical need and also help create and keep jobs in the United States. Milwaukee provides a safe, comfortable, and very attractive region for many of these high skilled workers coming into the United States”

Cybercities 2008 shows that the top five cybercities by high-tech employment in 2006 were the New York Metro Area, Washington, DC, San Jose/Silicon Valley, Boston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The nation’s highest tech industry concentration was in San Jose/Silicon Valley, where more than one in four private sector workers were employed by the tech industry. Seattle saw the largest tech industry employment growth, adding 7,800 jobs in 2006.

Later this summer, AeA will release Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade. That report will look at the most recent data on high-tech exports from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

AeA members can purchase Cybercities 2008 for $125; non-members for $250.  Visit www.aeanet.org/cybercities to download the report, or call 408.987.4200. 

What Does High Tech Mean for Milwaukee?

• 33,800 high-tech workers in 2006 (34th ranked cybercity)
   

• 200 jobs lost between 2005 and 2006 (55th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 46 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (44th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $67,200 (42nd ranked cybercity), or 61 percent more than Milwaukee’s average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $2.3 billion in 2006 (34th ranked cybercity)
   

• 1,600 high-tech establishments in 2006 (41st ranked cybercity)

Milwaukee’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 21st in internet services employment with 4,900 jobs
   

• 36th in computer systems design and related services employment with 7,300 jobs
   

• 41st in engineering services employment with 4,900 jobs

Notes:

Milwaukee = Wisconsin Counties: Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha.

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

2006 data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Source: Cybercities 2008

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.aeanet.org)

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About AeA

AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association, representing all segments of the high-tech industry, is dedicated solely to helping our members’ top line and bottom line. We do this in partnership with our small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs. For more information, please visit http://www.aeanet.org.   

This page was last updated on 06/20/08.            
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