Physicists Salary in Madison, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Madison, WI

Median annual salary $129,070 -22.4% vs national
Median hourly $62.05
10th percentile $84,480
90th percentile $199,350
Employed locally 80
National median $166,290

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Physicists
in
Madison, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $84,480
    25th
    $84,480
    50th (median)
    $129,070
    75th
    $146,820
    90th
    $199,350

    Madison economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,827 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 149% Median Physicists salary is 49% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physicists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $266,260
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $226,750
    Cleveland, OH $225,930
    Minnesota $222,550
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $219,070
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $215,340

    Nearby metros — Physicists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $215,340
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $196,680
    Wisconsin $174,010
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $165,730
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $151,860

    Related occupations in Madison, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Biological Technicians$49,630
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,940
    Chemists$73,920
    Biological Scientists, All Other$77,340
    Microbiologists$79,530
    Conservation Scientists$81,120

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Madison?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Madison, WI is $62.05, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $94.78 or more per hour.

    Is Madison above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Madison, WI is 22.4% below the national median of $166,290. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physicists in Madison?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $84,480 per year in Madison, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $84,480.