Accountants and Auditors Salary
The median pay for a accountants and auditors in Wisconsin is $79,400/year ($38.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $84,173 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 23% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Wisconsin?
About accountants and auditors
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Accountants and auditors pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $84K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,202/month, 23.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level accountants and auditors (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Accountants and Auditors salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $81K | +2% | 4,440 |
| Appleton | $80K | +1% | 1,020 |
| Sheboygan | $80K | +1% | 390 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $80K | +1% | 7,960 |
| Kenosha | $79K | -1% | 570 |
| Green Bay | $78K | -2% | 1,490 |
| Wausau | $78K | -2% | 530 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $78K | -2% | 690 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $78K | -2% | 540 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $77K | -3% | 500 |
| Fond du Lac | $77K | -3% | 330 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $77K | -3% | 630 |
| Eau Claire | $76K | -4% | 670 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a accountants and auditor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 23.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for accountants and auditors in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new accountants and auditors typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,500/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is accountants and auditor a high-paying job in Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $84K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for accountants and auditors?
Wisconsin pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do accountants and auditors make in Wisconsin?
The median is $79,400 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,340, and experienced accountants and auditors can clear $127,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,090/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 23.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a accountants and auditors salary go in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median accountants and auditors salary is worth about $84,173 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do accountants and auditors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.