What salary do you need to live in Madison, WI?
For a single person: about $73,500/year before taxes to live comfortably. That's the gross income whose WI-taxed take-home covers roughly $1,694 rent plus everyday essentials, with a 20% cushion for savings. Figures include 2025 federal tax, FICA, and an effective 3.8% Wisconsin income tax.
What jobs here actually pay: the typical Madison worker earns about $58,080/year (BLS OEWS, all occupations) — below the $59,500 a single person needs to cover local essentials, so a median local job alone runs 2% short.
Single person — est. essentials $3,982/mo
Tight
take-home covers $3,982/mo
$59,500/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $4,778/mo
$73,500/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $5,973/mo
$95,500/yr
2-person household — est. essentials $5,227/mo
Tight
take-home covers $5,227/mo
$75,000/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $6,272/mo
$91,500/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $7,841/mo
$116,500/yr
3-person household — est. essentials $6,472/mo
Tight
take-home covers $6,472/mo
$95,000/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $7,766/mo
$115,500/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $9,708/mo
$149,500/yr
4-person household — est. essentials $7,402/mo
Tight
take-home covers $7,402/mo
$109,500/yr
Comfortable
take-home covers $8,882/mo
$134,000/yr
Thriving
take-home covers $11,103/mo
$175,000/yr
How we calculate this
Essentials = typical rent ($1,694) + a national non-housing baseline by household size ($2,450 for one person) + Wisconsin's combined sales tax on the taxable share of that spending. We then solve for the gross salary whose after-tax take-home hits each tier, including municipal income tax where the city levies one. These assume adults sharing a home. A household with young children also pays childcare, which in most cities is the largest line after rent — run a search with your own household to price it. Property taxes aren't modeled — see the methodology.
Find jobs in Madison
Opens each board's search pre-filled for Madison, WI.
Planning a move here?
Get notified when Madison gets more affordable, plus relocation tips.
We'll only email you what you asked for. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy.