The average salary for a Accountant in Madison is 82,242 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 6,853 $ gross per month and 39.54 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 40,000 $ to 137,778 $. The analysis is based on 30 salary reports from workers and employers in Madison. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/18/2026 | Director of Accounting | 45.0 h | 155,000 $ | 137,778 $ | 11,481 $ | 66.24 $ | I'm the director of accounting for a multi-entity regional company, overseeing controllers and the accounting function. This is a senior leadership, full-time role that often requires long hours during reporting cycles. |
| 11/03/2025 | Staff Accountant | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I work full time as a staff accountant for a regional software company. I've been here two years and focus on revenue recognition and month-end processes. |
| 06/20/2025 | Forensic Accountant (self-employed) | 30.0 h | 95,000 $ | 126,667 $ | 10,556 $ | 60.90 $ | I'm self-employed as a forensic accounting consultant, working part time (around 30 hours/week) on engagements for law firms and small businesses. I run my own schedule and manage client work directly. |
| 03/10/2025 | Senior Accountant (tech startup) | 40.0 h | 105,000 $ | 105,000 $ | 8,750 $ | 50.48 $ | I am a senior accountant at a local tech startup, working full time on accounting systems, revenue recognition, and investor reporting. The role is fast-paced and I handle cross-functional requests. |
| 01/15/2025 | Senior Tax Accountant (CPA) | 40.0 h | 118,000 $ | 118,000 $ | 9,833 $ | 56.73 $ | I am a senior tax accountant with a CPA license working full time in public accounting. I lead tax engagements for mid-market clients and have been in this role four years. |
| 11/02/2024 | Accounting Manager (large corporation) | 45.0 h | 130,000 $ | 115,556 $ | 9,630 $ | 55.56 $ | I'm an accounting manager at a large corporation's regional office, managing month-end close across multiple entities. This is a leadership role and I regularly work long hours to coordinate across teams. |
| 08/25/2024 | Self-employed CPA (private practice) | 40.0 h | 130,000 $ | 130,000 $ | 10,833 $ | 62.50 $ | I own a small private accounting practice providing tax, bookkeeping, and advisory services. I'm self-employed and run the business full time, handling both client work and administrative tasks. |
| 05/30/2024 | Corporate Accountant | 40.0 h | 84,000 $ | 84,000 $ | 7,000 $ | 40.38 $ | I work as a corporate accountant at a local corporate office, supporting budgeting and variance analysis. I'm in a full-time role and have been with the company for three years. |
| 03/14/2024 | Senior Cost Accountant | 40.0 h | 89,000 $ | 89,000 $ | 7,417 $ | 42.79 $ | I work full time as a senior cost accountant at a food manufacturing company, responsible for detailed product costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis. |
| 09/21/2023 | Controller (small nonprofit) | 42.0 h | 112,000 $ | 106,667 $ | 8,889 $ | 51.28 $ | I'm the controller for a small nonprofit and oversee accounting, grants reporting, and a team of two. This is a full-time management role and often requires extra hours around reporting deadlines. |
| 06/01/2023 | Payroll Manager | 40.0 h | 97,000 $ | 97,000 $ | 8,083 $ | 46.63 $ | I manage payroll and benefits for a large regional employer. I'm full time and supervise a small payroll team while coordinating with HR and finance. |
| 02/05/2023 | Senior Accountant | 40.0 h | 96,000 $ | 96,000 $ | 8,000 $ | 46.15 $ | I am a senior accountant at a regional healthcare provider. I lead complex reconciliations and support financial analysis in a full-time capacity and have been with the organization six years. |
| 12/12/2022 | Controller (medium business) | 44.0 h | 140,000 $ | 127,273 $ | 10,606 $ | 61.19 $ | I'm the controller for a medium-sized manufacturing business, overseeing accounting, treasury, and financial reporting. It's a senior leadership role and I often work extended hours during month-end and budgeting cycles. |
| 07/18/2022 | Financial Reporting Accountant | 40.0 h | 88,000 $ | 88,000 $ | 7,333 $ | 42.31 $ | I handle external financial reporting at a medium-sized company and have been here four years. This is a standard full-time role focused on GAAP reporting and SEC-friendly disclosures. |
| 03/29/2022 | Accounting Manager | 43.0 h | 102,000 $ | 94,884 $ | 7,907 $ | 45.62 $ | I'm the accounting manager for a local manufacturing company, overseeing month-end close and a team of three. I'm in a full-time leadership role and regularly work extended hours during close periods. |
| 10/11/2021 | Tax Senior | 42.0 h | 85,000 $ | 80,952 $ | 6,746 $ | 38.92 $ | I work as a tax senior at a regional public accounting firm and supervise a small team during tax season. This is a salaried full-time position and I routinely work slightly extended hours to manage deliverables. |
| 09/07/2021 | Accounting Analyst | 40.0 h | 72,500 $ | 72,500 $ | 6,042 $ | 34.86 $ | I'm an accounting analyst at a local financial services firm, working full time on budgeting, forecasting, and ad hoc financial analysis. I've been in this role three years. |
| 04/02/2021 | Senior Accountant | 40.0 h | 78,000 $ | 78,000 $ | 6,500 $ | 37.50 $ | I'm a senior accountant at a manufacturing company and have been here six years. I prepare financial statements, lead audits, and mentor junior staff in a full-time role. |
| 12/15/2020 | Staff Accountant (part-time) | 30.0 h | 34,000 $ | 45,333 $ | 3,778 $ | 21.79 $ | I work part time (about 30 hours/week) as a staff accountant for a small tech firm while finishing grad school. I handle accounts receivable and assist with month-end tasks. |
| 09/30/2020 | Payroll Specialist | 40.0 h | 61,000 $ | 61,000 $ | 5,083 $ | 29.33 $ | I run payroll for a medium-sized nonprofit and have been in this full-time position for five years. I handle payroll processing, benefits coordination, and compliance. |
| 02/11/2020 | Accounts Payable Specialist | 37.5 h | 46,000 $ | 49,067 $ | 4,089 $ | 23.59 $ | I am an accounts payable specialist at a mid-size retailer, working full time. I process invoices, manage vendor relationships, and handle payment runs. |
| 10/22/2019 | Tax Associate | 35.0 h | 49,000 $ | 56,000 $ | 4,667 $ | 26.92 $ | I worked as a tax associate primarily during filing season in a full-time role that averaged 35 hours/week for most of the year. I prepared individual and small-business returns. |
| 06/17/2019 | Cost Accountant | 38.0 h | 58,000 $ | 61,053 $ | 5,088 $ | 29.35 $ | I've been the cost accountant at a local food processing plant for four years. I work standard hours in a full-time role and manage product costing and inventory variance analysis. |
| 11/05/2018 | Tax Accountant | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I am a tax accountant in a mid-sized tax practice, working full time. I'm in my second year after passing the CPA exams and I prepare returns and assist with tax planning for small businesses. |
| 04/01/2018 | Audit Senior | 42.0 h | 70,000 $ | 66,667 $ | 5,556 $ | 32.05 $ | I work as an audit senior at a public accounting firm. I'm responsible for fieldwork and supervising staff during busy season and often work extra hours to meet client deadlines. |
| 08/14/2017 | Bookkeeper (part-time) | 20.0 h | 28,000 $ | 56,000 $ | 4,667 $ | 26.92 $ | I do part-time bookkeeping for a local retail business, working about 20 hours per week. I handle payroll, bank reconciliations, and vendor payments on a contracted basis. |
| 03/22/2017 | Staff Accountant | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I work full time as a staff accountant for a regional distributor. I've been here three years and focus on month-end close, journal entries, and intercompany accounting. |
| 12/29/2016 | Entry-level Accountant | 40.0 h | 40,000 $ | 40,000 $ | 3,333 $ | 19.23 $ | I started as an entry-level accountant at a small CPA firm straight out of college. I'm full time and primarily do bookkeeping, preparing basic tax returns, and learning client accounting systems. |
| 09/19/2016 | Assistant Accountant | 35.0 h | 44,500 $ | 50,857 $ | 4,238 $ | 24.45 $ | I work as an assistant accountant at a small construction firm in a full-time position that generally averages 35 hours/week. I support billing, payroll, and job-cost tracking. |
| 08/12/2016 | Junior Accountant | 40.0 h | 46,000 $ | 46,000 $ | 3,833 $ | 22.12 $ | I'm a junior accountant at a small manufacturing firm and have been here about a year. I handle reconciliations, invoice entry, and month-end support in a full-time role with no direct reports. |
Madison, Wisconsin is a state capital, a Big Ten university town, and a growing tech–biotech hub—an economic mix that consistently needs accounting talent. Accountants in Madison typically find opportunities across state and local government, higher education, healthcare, insurance, software, manufacturing, and an active nonprofit sector. The region’s steady business expansion and strong institutional footprint help create ongoing demand for professionals who can manage audits, financial reporting, grants and fund accounting, compliance, and tax.
The Madison metropolitan area (Dane County) includes nearby communities like Middleton, Verona, Fitchburg, and Sun Prairie. Many of the area’s largest employers—and a dense network of public accounting firms—hire accountants regularly, from entry-level roles supported by campus recruiting at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to experienced positions in corporate controllership, internal audit, and technical accounting.
Madison’s labor market is often described as tight, with employers competing for skilled finance talent and many offering hybrid work arrangements. National projections point to steady demand for accountants, and locally that demand is supported by industry diversity: public sector agencies require GASB knowledge and grant compliance, insurers and healthcare systems seek regulatory reporting expertise, and technology and biotech companies value proficiency with revenue recognition, cost accounting, and audit readiness.
Public accounting firms in the area typically ramp up hiring ahead of busy season, while corporate accounting teams recruit year-round for roles in financial reporting, FP&A collaboration, and internal controls. Candidates with a CPA are frequently preferred, and credentials like CMA or CIA can strengthen applications for cost accounting and internal audit roles. Experience with GAAP, fund accounting, and ERP systems (such as Oracle, NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics) is commonly requested. For government and university-affiliated roles, familiarity with GASB, grants management, and procurement processes can be advantageous.
Accountants in Madison and the surrounding communities can find roles with government entities, large private employers, and regional CPA firms. Notable organizations include:
In Madison, accountants can pursue several paths. Public accounting offers audit and tax roles serving government bodies, nonprofits, and private companies, with progression to senior, manager, and partner or movement into corporate finance. Corporate accounting roles are common in insurance, healthcare, and technology—often emphasizing monthly close, consolidation, SEC or statutory reporting (where applicable), and strengthening internal controls. Manufacturers in the metro and nearby suburbs hire cost accountants and analysts to support pricing, inventory, and capital projects.
Government and higher education roles are a regional hallmark, with positions in budget, grants, and fund accounting that value attention to compliance and stewardship of public and research dollars. Nonprofits based in Madison frequently need accountants familiar with donor restrictions and grant reporting. Internal audit, enterprise risk, and compliance positions are available at larger employers—especially those with complex regulatory profiles or public reporting requirements. Skills in data analytics, advanced Excel, and familiarity with tools used for financial close and reporting can help candidates stand out.
For new graduates, internships via UW–Madison and local firms provide a strong onramp, and many employers recruit on a predictable annual cycle. Experienced professionals often find opportunities to specialize—whether in healthcare reimbursement, multi-entity consolidations, revenue recognition, or governmental accounting—reflecting Madison’s diverse economy and the region’s ongoing need for reliable financial expertise.
The average salary for a Accountant in Madison is 82,242 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 6,853 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Accountant and the city overview for Madison. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
Compare all cities for Accountant · Alle Jobs in Madison vergleichen
