How much does a physicist make in Madison?
$136,500a year
Median yearly pay for physicists in the Madison, WI metro area. That is $65.60 an hour or $11,370 a month.
- Hourly
- $65.60
- Vs. national median
- -21%
- Rank among cities
- 43 of 60
- Jobs in the area
- 80
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $89,310Median: $136,500Highest 10%: $197,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $89,310 | $42.94 | |
| 25th | $89,310 | $42.94 | |
| Median | $136,500 | $65.60 | |
| 75th | $157,400 | $75.69 | |
| 90th | $197,100 | $94.78 |
Other cities in Wisconsin
Median yearly pay for physicists.
| Milwaukee, WI | $173,200 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $168,500 |
Related jobs in Madison
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $108,000 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $107,500 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $106,500 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $103,900 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $88,830 |
| Economist | $88,770 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $86,650 |
| Medical Scientist | $85,570 |
| Conservation Scientist | $85,110 |
| Psychologist | $85,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make an hour in Madison?
The median hourly pay in the Madison, WI metro area is $65.60 ($136,500 a year).
Do physicists make more in Madison than the national average?
No: $136,500 against $172,300 nationally, 21% less.
How does Madison compare with the rest of Wisconsin?
The median in Wisconsin is $173,100, so Madison pays 21% less.
Where does Madison rank for physicist pay?
43 of 60 metro areas with data.
How much does a physicist make starting out in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% make $89,310 or less a year; the top 10% make $197,100 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.