Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in Madison, WI is $95,580/year ($45.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.29), that's roughly $98,242 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,168/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $96K get you in Madison?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Madison’s Regional Price Parity (97.29). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Madison
Pay for physical scientists, all other in Madison runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,168/month, 19.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.29) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Madison can be a reasonable trade-off for physical scientists, all others who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physical scientists, all others in metros near Madison, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $122K | $118K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $176K | $168K |
| Duluth | $82K | $92K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Madison, WI
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physical Scientists, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $157K | +28% | 790 |
| Minnesota | $148K | +21% | 540 |
| North Dakota | $148K | +20% | 70 |
| Maryland | $141K | +15% | 1,810 |
| South Carolina | $141K | +15% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +13% | 350 |
| Georgia | $138K | +12% | 1,020 |
| Alabama | $135K | +10% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | +10% | 460 |
| Colorado | $134K | +10% | 710 |
| Washington | $134K | +9% | 450 |
| Florida | $132K | +7% | 340 |
| California | $131K | +7% | 2,320 |
| Tennessee | $130K | +6% | 120 |
| Arizona | $125K | +2% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $124K | +1% | 240 |
| Alaska | $120K | -2% | 140 |
| Michigan | $119K | -3% | 130 |
| New York | $118K | -4% | 1,510 |
| Utah | $116K | -5% | 250 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $112K | -8% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $112K | -8% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $110K | -10% | 650 |
| New Jersey | $110K | -10% | 590 |
| Oregon | $110K | -11% | 290 |
| Illinois | $109K | -11% | 580 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -11% | 380 |
| Ohio | $109K | -11% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $101K | -17% | 40 |
| Texas | $101K | -18% | 2,310 |
| Connecticut | $100K | -18% | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -20% | 70 |
| Montana | $95K | -23% | 100 |
| Louisiana | $94K | -23% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $81K | -34% | 260 |
| Iowa | $81K | -34% | 100 |
| Wyoming | $69K | -44% | 60 |
| Indiana | $69K | -44% | 1,240 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Madison numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Madison?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 19.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,168/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in Madison?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,667/month. At HUD’s $1,168/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical scientists, all other a high-paying job in Madison?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $96K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Madison compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
Madison pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.29), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in Madison, WI?
The median is $95,580 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,110, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $145,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in Madison?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,967/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,168/month, which eats 19.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical scientists, all other salary go in Madison?
Madison has a Regional Price Parity of 97.29 (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 physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $98,242 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical scientists, all others 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.