SOC 17-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Engineers — Madison
Madison, WI
In Madison, WI the median wage is $97,190.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Madison, WI the median wage is $97,190. That is 22.3% lower than the national median of $125,040. Pay ranges from under $74,640 at the tenth percentile to more than $130,720 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $83,550 to $113,690.
Of the 534 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 95th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,640 | −40.3% |
| 25th | $83,550 | −33.2% |
| Median (50th) | $97,190 | −22.3% |
| 75th | $113,690 | −9.1% |
| 90th | $130,720 | +4.5% |
| Mean | $99,570 | −20.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Madison run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $97,190 goes as far as $103,284 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$97,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$103,284US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $97,190 a year, 22.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $74,640 to $130,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Engineers in Madison, WI?
The median annual wage is $97,190, or $46.73 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $125,040, so pay in Madison, WI is 22.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Madison, WI earns more than $130,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $74,640 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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