Hydrologists pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,920 or more. The middle half of hydrologists in Madison earn between $75,360 and $97,470.
- $67K10th
- $75K25th
- $81KMedian
- $97K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,690 | $7,308 | $42.16 |
| Median | $81,310 | $6,776 | $39.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,360 | $6,280 | $36.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,470 | $8,122 | $46.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Hydrologists pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Hydrologists in Madison earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($86,040) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($103,600). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $96,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $87,690 | $81,310 | $67,200 | $115,920 | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $86,040 | $78,770 | $65,290 | $115,920 | 150 |
| United States | $103,600 | $96,600 | $64,020 | $153,130 | 5,850 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Hydrologists salary after taxes in Madison
On the average salary of $87,690, a single filer in Madison takes home about $66,823 a year, or $5,569 a month and $2,570 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 hydrologists? 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 $87,690 buys what about $90,135 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Hydrologists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 2nd of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($93,550).
- Milwaukee$93,550
- Madison$87,690
Highest-paying cities for hydrologists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($153,030).
- Washington, DC$153,030
- San Jose, CA$149,180
- San Francisco, CA$142,450
- Baltimore, MD$139,870
- Los Angeles, CA$130,070
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Hydrologists salary in Madison: questions
How much do hydrologists make an hour in Madison?
$42.16 an hour on average, and $39.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level hydrologists salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the hydrologists take-home pay in Madison?
About $66,823 a year ($5,569 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,690.
Do hydrologists earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($103,600).
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 19-2043; area Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 4.22, this job is 4.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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