Salary data is based on the Madison, WI metropolitan area and applied to Madison using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Electrical Salaries in Madison, WI

Average Base Pay

$42,456/yr

3% above national average

Monthly

$3,538

Hourly

$20

Cost Index

Electrical in Madison, WI earn an average of $42,456 per year, with most salaries falling between $33,965 and $50,947 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 3% above the national average, Madison ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 96. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Madison.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$32K
Low

$42K
Median

$53K
High

25th percentile: $36K75th percentile: $49K

About Electrical

Electrical Engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems and components including power generation and distribution systems, electronic circuits, communication systems, control systems, and embedded systems. The field spans power engineering, electronics, signal processing, telecommunications, and embedded systems design. Power engineers design high-voltage transmission systems, substations, and electrical distribution networks. Electronics engineers design printed circuit boards, analog and digital circuits, and microelectronic devices. Embedded systems engineers develop firmware and hardware for microcontrollers in products ranging from appliances to aerospace systems. Control engineers design feedback and automation systems for manufacturing, robotics, and process control. Electrical engineers use simulation tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, SPICE, and Altium Designer, and must translate theoretical designs into physical hardware that meets performance, reliability, and regulatory requirements. They work in energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics industries. PE licensure is required for power systems engineers working on public utility projects.

What Electricals Do

Design electrical systems, circuits, and components for products or infrastructure
Develop schematics and PCB layouts using EDA tools
Perform circuit analysis, simulation, and validation testing
Specify electrical components and materials for design requirements
Develop firmware for embedded systems and microcontrollers
Ensure designs meet safety standards and regulatory requirements
Collaborate with mechanical engineers, software engineers, and manufacturing teams
Troubleshoot and resolve electrical system failures

Key Skills & Qualifications

Circuit design and analysis (analog and digital)
PCB design using Altium Designer, KiCad, or Eagle
MATLAB and Simulink for modeling and simulation
Embedded C/C++ programming for microcontrollers
Power systems fundamentals and electrical code knowledge
Oscilloscope, multimeter, and laboratory instrument proficiency
PE licensure (required for power engineering roles)
Cross-disciplinary collaboration with mechanical and software teams

Career Path

Electrical Engineer I / EIT
Electrical Engineer II
Senior Electrical Engineer
Principal / Staff Engineer
Engineering Manager / Chief Engineer

Electrical Market in Madison, WI

Salary Competitiveness

Madison salaries for Electricals track closely with the national median, diverging by less than 4%. This alignment suggests a competitive but balanced local market—employers are broadly in step with national pay scales, which can make benchmark comparisons more reliable when negotiating.

Cost of Living Impact

Madison sits close to the national cost average. Monthly essential expenses represent about 99% of take-home pay for this role—a midrange ratio that allows for modest savings and discretionary spending, provided housing costs remain stable.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Electrical earning $42,456 in Madison operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

+3%

Cost Pressure

99%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$30,993

Monthly

$2,583

Weekly

$596

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $42,456 for a Electrical in Madison translates to roughly $2,583 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $2,570—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $13 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Madison's current market.

How far does this salary go in Madison?

Cost of Living in Madison

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Madison, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

Below Avg — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$1,480/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$490/mo

🚗Transportation$130/mo

💡Utilities$165/mo

🏥Healthcare$305/mo

Monthly$2,570

Annual$30,840

Disposable Income$13

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Madison to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$2,583

Living Costs

$2,570

Disposable

$13

Cost Index

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $2,583, your estimated living costs in Madison are $2,570 ($30,840/yr). This leaves $13 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Madison's cost of living is 4% below the national average.

Overall, a Electrical earning $42,456 in Madison falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 96, Madison is 4% more affordable than the national average, which extends your purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Madison continue to evolve.