Highway Maintenance Worker Salary in Madison, WI
Highway Maintenance Workers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $63,530 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,212 take-home, or $4,268 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median highway maintenance worker salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,444
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,939
- Medicare (1.45%)$921
- Wisconsin income tax$2,014
- Take-home pay$51,212
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Highway Maintenance Worker pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,010 | $24.04 | $40,944 | $3,412 |
| 25th percentile | $56,510 | $27.17 | $45,880 | $3,823 |
| Median (50th) | $63,530 | $30.54 | $51,212 | $4,268 |
| 75th percentile | $71,920 | $34.58 | $56,994 | $4,750 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,920 | $34.58 | $56,994 | $4,750 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,530 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 highway maintenance worker's $51,212 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,640 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI has 1.7× the national concentration of highway maintenance worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for highway maintenance workers, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #4 of 49 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $76,220 | $58,823 | $56,781 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $75,030 | $61,614 | $55,441 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $60,900 | $49,451 | $53,926 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $63,530 | $51,212 | $52,640 |
| 5 | Hartford, CT | $66,310 | $53,388 | $51,961 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,660 | $49,032 | $50,582 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $63,650 | $50,518 | $48,194 |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $58,470 | $46,600 | $48,024 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 49 metros →
Highway Maintenance Worker salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $60,660
Frequently asked questions
How much does a highway maintenance worker make in Madison, WI?
The median highway maintenance worker salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $63,530 a year, or about $30.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,510 and $71,920.
What is a highway maintenance worker’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $63,530 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $51,212 a year ($4,268 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,014 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a highway maintenance worker?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $50,260. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,640 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #4 of 49 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a highway maintenance worker 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) — 32% of a median highway maintenance worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $93,290
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $85,160
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $83,060
- Electrician — $78,430
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $65,910
- Carpenter — $63,480
- Construction Laborer — $57,000
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $56,490