Lawyers pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $365,510 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Madison earn between $99,020 and $171,300.
- $77K10th
- $99K25th
- $124KMedian
- $171K75th
- $366K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $163,780 | $13,648 | $78.74 |
| Median | $124,130 | $10,344 | $59.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $99,020 | $8,252 | $47.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $171,300 | $14,275 | $82.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Lawyers in Madison earn 4% less than the Wisconsin average ($171,200) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $163,780 | $124,130 | $77,040 | $365,510 | 1,860 |
| Wisconsin | $171,200 | $126,760 | $76,010 | $362,040 | 9,160 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Madison
On the average salary of $163,780, a single filer in Madison takes home about $115,170 a year, or $9,597 a month and $4,430 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 lawyers? 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 $163,780 buys what about $168,347 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 4th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Milwaukee pays the most ($187,570).
- Milwaukee$187,570
- Sheboygan$179,280
- Appleton$164,010
- Madison$163,780
- Green Bay$163,010
- Eau Claire$155,420
- Oshkosh$154,650
- Fond du Lac$147,690
- Janesville$147,600
- Kenosha$145,650
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Madison: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Madison?
$78.74 an hour on average, and $59.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $99,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Madison?
About $115,170 a year ($9,597 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $163,780.
Do lawyers earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
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 23-1011; area Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.6%.
- 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 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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