Jobs, pay and daily life in Madison, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Madison is a city in Wisconsin with 278,001 residents. The median household earns $78,050 a year and the median rent is $1,413 a month, which is 21.7% of the median household income. It is part of the Madison, WI metropolitan area, where BLS counts 408,070 jobs.
Federal jobs in Wisconsin (285) →State guide: WisconsinCountry guide
There are 285 federal postings open in Wisconsin (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Wisconsin →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 10,650 | 1.20 | $101,190 | $81,760 | $123,240 | +4% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 9,180 | 0.91 | $29,820 | $23,180 | $36,940 | -4% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 8,360 | 0.74 | $37,220 | $29,010 | $45,230 | +4% |
| Retail Salespersons | 8,330 | 0.81 | $35,830 | $28,310 | $49,190 | +1% |
| Cashiers | 7,960 | 0.98 | $34,550 | $25,730 | $40,300 | +5% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 7,130 | 0.92 | $44,190 | $34,720 | $56,320 | +10% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 7,120 | 1.05 | $47,500 | $35,190 | $70,350 | +6% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 6,780 | 1.17 | $39,680 | $31,200 | $48,120 | +8% |
| Software Developers | 6,720 | 1.52 | $130,630 | $82,790 | $171,290 | -4% |
| Office Clerks, General | 5,970 | 0.92 | $46,590 | $31,200 | $69,100 | +4% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 5,880 | 0.79 | $36,710 | $30,220 | $48,920 | -2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 5,130 | 0.86 | $30,910 | $18,120 | $77,900 | -12% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,130 | 0.56 | $126,620 | $63,380 | $257,480 | +20% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 4,630 | 1.03 | $51,410 | $39,140 | $65,370 | +8% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 4,510 | 1.22 | $47,360 | $37,990 | $59,520 | +6% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 4,440 | 1.17 | $81,130 | $60,770 | $122,930 | -3% |
| Project Management Specialists | 4,280 | 1.53 | $98,990 | $61,040 | $136,690 | -3% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 4,160 | 0.77 | $59,700 | $44,110 | $77,750 | +2% |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 4,060 | 1.23 | $65,840 | $40,470 | $119,540 | -6% |
| Bartenders | 3,810 | 1.92 | $23,210 | $18,200 | $39,170 | -32% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 850 | 0.94 | $301,940 | $81,650 | $460,070 | +14% |
| Chief Executives | 900 | 1.67 | $217,010 | $122,970 | $402,710 | +1% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 2,540 | 1.44 | $168,900 | $98,520 | $275,690 | -4% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 750 | 1.29 | $160,700 | $118,940 | $211,280 | -6% |
| Pharmacists | 1,120 | 1.32 | $158,120 | $112,140 | $169,980 | +12% |
| Financial Managers | 2,320 | 1.05 | $148,970 | $83,830 | $253,800 | -11% |
| Sales Managers | 1,660 | 0.99 | $146,380 | $78,740 | $247,270 | -1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 660 | 1.13 | $140,680 | $92,950 | $206,920 | -6% |
| Marketing Managers | 1,000 | 0.96 | $138,270 | $94,470 | $204,410 | -17% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 530 | 1.86 | $136,990 | $99,250 | $204,030 | -18% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 530 | 0.62 | $133,080 | $108,360 | $167,330 | +1% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,220 | 0.78 | $131,640 | $96,110 | $224,390 | +6% |
| Software Developers | 6,720 | 1.52 | $130,630 | $82,790 | $171,290 | -4% |
| Managers, All Other | 2,590 | 1.59 | $129,330 | $74,070 | $203,780 | -9% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 1,450 | 2.25 | $127,020 | $83,350 | $208,310 | +1% |
| General and Operations Managers | 5,130 | 0.56 | $126,620 | $63,380 | $257,480 | +20% |
| Lawyers | 1,860 | 0.94 | $124,130 | $77,040 | $365,510 | -22% |
| Construction Managers | 860 | 0.86 | $119,840 | $77,540 | $174,130 | +4% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 1,240 | 1.79 | $112,280 | $81,780 | $165,840 | -2% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 1,010 | 1.07 | $103,750 | $63,150 | $182,480 | +1% |
These figures are for the whole Madison, WI metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $58,080 (US $50,980); unemployment 2.5% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.6% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 17.7% |
| Retail trade | 9.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 8.5% |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 6.7% |
| Public administration | 4.5% |
| Other services | 4.1% |
| Construction | 3.0% |
| Information | 2.7% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.3% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 56.7% |
| Public transit | 5.3% |
| Walk | 7.6% |
| Work from home | 20.5% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 5.1% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,050 |
| Income per person | $49,425 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,413 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 21.7% |
| Median home value | $372,900 |
| Homeowners | 46.0% |
| Poverty rate | 16.4% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 97.3 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $58,080 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 7.65%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 95.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 59.9% |
| Born abroad | 11.6% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 70.2% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -7.9 | 18 | 36 |
| Feb | -6.4 | 20 | 41 |
| Mar | 0.9 | 34 | 59 |
| Apr | 7.5 | 46 | 98 |
| May | 14.1 | 57 | 108 |
| Jun | 19.9 | 68 | 134 |
| Jul | 22.5 | 72 | 102 |
| Aug | 21.5 | 71 | 111 |
| Sep | 17.2 | 63 | 93 |
| Oct | 9.4 | 49 | 80 |
| Nov | 2.3 | 36 | 56 |
| Dec | -4.6 | 24 | 51 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | IL | 60 mi | 147,521 | $54,752 | $985 |
| Milwaukee | WI | 74 mi | 563,512 | $56,792 | $1,081 |
| Aurora | IL | 108 mi | 179,898 | $93,633 | $1,596 |
| Naperville | IL | 113 mi | 150,692 | $155,105 | $1,885 |
| Chicago | IL | 124 mi | 2,721,326 | $80,613 | $1,486 |
| Joliet | IL | 127 mi | 150,445 | $92,201 | $1,276 |
| Cedar Rapids | IA | 138 mi | 137,264 | $70,424 | $967 |
| Rochester | MN | 166 mi | 122,330 | $89,389 | $1,399 |
| Grand Rapids | MI | 191 mi | 198,535 | $69,108 | $1,266 |
| St. Paul | MN | 223 mi | 307,284 | $73,394 | $1,281 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
278,001 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,413 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 21.7% of the median household income.
$78,050 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
2.5% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Wisconsin. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.