Human Resources Manager Salary in Madison, WI
Human Resources Managers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $140,680 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $101,345 take-home, or $8,445 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources manager salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,497
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,722
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,040
- Wisconsin income tax$6,076
- Take-home pay$101,345
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.30% state
Human Resources Manager pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,950 | $44.69 | $70,674 | $5,890 |
| 25th percentile | $114,410 | $55.00 | $84,634 | $7,053 |
| Median (50th) | $140,680 | $67.63 | $101,345 | $8,445 |
| 75th percentile | $170,160 | $81.81 | $119,932 | $9,994 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,920 | $99.48 | $144,437 | $12,036 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $140,680 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 human resources manager's $101,345 take-home pay has the buying power of $104,171 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Manager jobs are about as common in Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for human resources managers, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #38 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $220,460 | $144,650 | $130,996 |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | $191,190 | $133,038 | $124,493 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $209,340 | $137,845 | $119,230 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $184,990 | $128,708 | $118,881 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $160,580 | $115,124 | $117,989 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $158,930 | $114,062 | $117,169 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $171,360 | $128,391 | $115,529 |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | $138,560 | $105,972 | $114,963 |
| 38 | Madison, WI | $140,680 | $101,345 | $104,171 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
Human Resources Manager salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $136,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in Madison, WI?
The median human resources manager salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $140,680 a year, or about $67.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $114,410 and $170,160.
What is a human resources manager’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $140,680 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $101,345 a year ($8,445 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,076 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a human resources manager?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $149,280. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $104,171 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #38 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources manager 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) — 16% of a median human resources manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- Chief Executive — $217,010
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $168,900
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $160,700
- Financial Manager — $148,970
- Sales Manager — $146,380
- Marketing Manager — $138,270
- Natural Sciences Manager — $136,990
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $131,640
- Managers, All Other — $129,330
- Industrial Production Manager — $127,020
- General and Operations Manager — $126,620
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $126,320