Chief Executives pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $122,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $402,710 or more. The middle half of chief executives in Madison earn between $172,040 and $325,550.
- $123K10th
- $172K25th
- $217KMedian
- $326K75th
- $403K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $262,920 | $21,910 | $126.40 |
| Median | $217,010 | $18,084 | $104.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $172,040 | $14,337 | $82.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $325,550 | $27,129 | $156.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chief Executives pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Chief executives in Madison earn 4% more than the Wisconsin average ($252,660) and about the same as the U.S. average ($269,630). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $213,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $262,920 | $217,010 | $122,970 | $402,710 | 900 |
| Wisconsin | $252,660 | $208,350 | $103,560 | $426,290 | n/a |
| United States | $269,630 | $213,990 | $75,700 | $507,730 | 204,350 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chief Executives salary after taxes in Madison
On the average salary of $262,920, a single filer in Madison takes home about $178,370 a year, or $14,864 a month and $6,860 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for chief executives? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $262,920 buys what about $270,252 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 1.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Chief Executives salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 7th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Oshkosh pays the most ($307,260).
- Oshkosh$307,260
- Janesville$298,350
- Green Bay$283,940
- Milwaukee$277,940
- Fond du Lac$275,270
- Sheboygan$265,790
- Madison$262,920
- Kenosha$257,060
- Appleton$253,990
- La Crosse$239,750
Highest-paying cities for chief executives
Medford, OR pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($503,650).
- Medford, OR$503,650
- Midland, MI$493,680
- Bridgeport, CT$447,290
- Durham, NC$425,580
- Portland, OR$420,320
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Chief Executives salary in Madison: questions
How much do chief executives make an hour in Madison?
$126.40 an hour on average, and $104.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chief executives salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $122,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $172,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chief executives take-home pay in Madison?
About $178,370 a year ($14,864 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $262,920.
Do chief executives earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($269,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 11-1011; area Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.67, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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