Accountant and Auditor Salary in Madison, WI
Accountants and Auditors in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $81,130 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,986 take-home, or $5,249 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median accountant and auditor salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,019
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,030
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,176
- Wisconsin income tax$2,919
- Take-home pay$62,986
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Accountant and Auditor pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,770 | $29.22 | $49,116 | $4,093 |
| 25th percentile | $68,000 | $32.69 | $54,445 | $4,537 |
| Median (50th) | $81,130 | $39.00 | $62,986 | $5,249 |
| 75th percentile | $101,120 | $48.62 | $75,989 | $6,332 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,930 | $59.10 | $90,154 | $7,513 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,130 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median accountant and auditor's $62,986 take-home pay has the buying power of $64,742 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Accountant and Auditor jobs are about as common in Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for accountants and auditors, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #51 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $121,700 | $85,775 | $77,679 |
| 2 | Charlotte, NC | $92,910 | $70,994 | $72,928 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $80,920 | $65,757 | $72,555 |
| 4 | Trenton, NJ | $99,550 | $74,712 | $72,409 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $99,990 | $75,482 | $71,749 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $102,020 | $76,565 | $71,647 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $95,020 | $72,730 | $71,463 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $100,020 | $75,502 | $71,375 |
| 51 | Madison, WI | $81,130 | $62,986 | $64,742 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
About the job: accountants and auditors
Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Accountant and Auditor salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $80,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountant and auditor make in Madison, WI?
The median accountant and auditor salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $81,130 a year, or about $39.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $68,000 and $101,120.
What is a accountant and auditor’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $81,130 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $62,986 a year ($5,249 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,919 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a accountant and auditor?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $83,680. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $64,742 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #51 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a accountant and auditor afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median accountant and auditor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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