Madison Employment

Employment and Industries in the Madison, Wisconsin Area

Due to being the state capital of Wisconsin, government is a significant economic force and a major employer. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is also a major job provider. Manufacturing also has an important economic role. Consumer services and high-tech industries are becoming more important to Madison especially, biotech, health and advertising. In addition, The region is a prominent farming area and has a prominent meat packing industry.

Madison is a banking and finance hub. Madison has the home offices of over 30 insurance companies. Madison is also the world headquarters for Oscar Meyer, Rayovac and Promega Corporation.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has an important role in the growth of the local high-tech industries. Some of the research performed at the university has been transferred to businesses, especially those involved with bio-tech applications. Madison had over 450 companies classified as high-tech.

Noteworthy technology companies located in the area are Tomo Therapy, Sonic Foundry, Telephone and Data Systems, Netconcepts, Raven Software, Berbee Information Networks and Epic Systems Corporation. Prominent biotech companies exist in Madison including Promega, Pan Vera (part of Invitrogen) and Nimblegen.

Jobs are provided by companies that produce items such as food packaging products, farm machinery, hospital equipment, fabricated structural steel, optical instruments, lenses and dry cell batteries.

Madison has been ranked by Forbes magazine as having the highest percentage of people holding Ph.D's in the nation. Madison was also ranked 31st out of the top 200 metro areas for "Best Places for Business and Careers." Madison has been ranked as one of the top five cities to start a business by Entrepreneur.

Noteworthy information regarding Madison, Wisconsin: Estimated median household income in 2007: $51,000. Cost of living index in 2008: 85.6 (U.S. average: 100). Adult population which has achieved a bachelor's degree or higher: 48%.

The largest employers in the Madison area:

  • University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • State of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Government
  • American Family Insurance
  • Madison Metropolitan School District
  • WPS Insurance
  • UW Health Hospitals/Clinics
  • CUNA Mutual Group
  • Alliant Energy Corp
  • American Girl
  • Covance
  • Dean Health System
  • Epic System
  • Kraft/Oscar Mayer Foods
  • Meriter Health Services
  • Springs Window Fashions
  • Stoughton Trailers
  • TDS Telecom
  • Walmart

The top nonagricultural job providing sectors in Madison, Wisconsin:

  • Government
  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Educational and health services
  • Professional and business services
  • Manufacturing
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Financial activities

Madison businesses are invited to collaborate with the following associations:

Current news about Madison business and industry is provided by Madison.com.

Jobs in Madison

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations395290$54,300$26.11100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations54220$41,200$19.8113.75
3Sales and Related Occupations34670$44,540$21.429.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations31300$24,880$11.968.7
5Business and Financial Operations Occupations30490$70,880$34.085.35
6Educational Instruction and Library Occupations26440$56,630$27.236
7Production Occupations25110$40,670$19.555.6
8Transportation and Material Moving Occupations25020$37,210$17.896.7
9Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations24340$81,060$38.975.85
10Computer and Mathematical Occupations23850$85,350$41.033
11Management Occupations18890$117,730$56.66.35
12Construction and Extraction Occupations16180$54,920$26.44.6
13Healthcare Support Occupations14680$32,990$15.862.85
14Customer Service Representatives12880$40,620$19.531.75
15Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations12680$50,780$24.413.75
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations11600$32,330$15.553.6
17Retail Salespersons9930$27,960$13.442.7
18Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers8900$94,620$45.490.65
19Fast Food and Counter Workers8850$21,870$10.512.45
20Registered Nurses8650$80,490$38.71.95
21Office Clerks, General8430$36,780$17.681.9
22Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations8240$66,830$32.130.8
23Architecture and Engineering Occupations8140$80,830$38.861.7
24Cashiers7880$24,210$11.642.2
25Personal Care and Service Occupations6860$32,120$15.444.65
26Home Health and Personal Care Aides6400$27,720$13.330
27Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations6380$52,510$25.251.8
28Protective Service Occupations6090$47,990$23.072.2
29Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners6070$31,110$14.961.5
30Community and Social Service Occupations5730$47,670$22.921.75
31Stockers and Order Fillers5630$30,280$14.561.25
32Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks5580$42,140$20.261.05
33Waiters and Waitresses5230$25,320$12.171.65
34Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand4940$35,580$17.111.8
35General and Operations Managers4860$130,270$62.631.5
36Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other4750$71,700$34.470.7
37Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products4090$68,350$32.860.85
38Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators3990$36,930$17.760.8
39Bartenders3980$22,680$10.90.4
40Management Analysts3950$89,070$42.820.55
41Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers3870$52,160$25.081.2
42Accountants and Auditors3840$70,830$34.050.9
43Computer Systems Analysts3840$93,840$45.120.4
44Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive3750$39,500$18.991.4
45Maintenance and Repair Workers, General3730$44,030$21.170.9
46Nursing Assistants3500$33,920$16.310.95
47First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers3460$62,220$29.920.95
48Receptionists and Information Clerks3400$33,940$16.320.7
49Cooks, Restaurant2980$26,340$12.660.9
50Legal Occupations2830$95,290$45.810.8
51Construction Laborers2810$43,810$21.060.9
52First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers2750$33,270$15.990.6
53Carpenters2700$55,290$26.580.6
54Human Resources Specialists2550$62,550$30.070.4
55Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers2450$35,140$16.890.75
56Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel2380$60,280$28.980.7
57Computer User Support Specialists2330$57,670$27.730.4
58Light Truck Drivers2330$36,630$17.610.6
59Substitute Teachers, Short-Term2280$36,440$17.520.4
60First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers2250$49,670$23.880.95
61Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2240$27,200$13.080.9
62Electricians2150$55,180$26.530.45
63Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity2060$31,910$15.340.3
64First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers2020$63,100$30.340.4
65Food Preparation Workers1940$24,760$11.90.5
66Web Developers and Digital Interface Designers1920$66,290$31.870.1
67Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other1900$98,110$47.170.7
68Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1730$42,540$20.450.35
69Lawyers1680$120,700$58.030.5
70Insurance Sales Agents1660$82,650$39.730.3
71Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education1620$31,210$150.3
72Medical Assistants1610$39,480$18.980.45
73Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations1550$32,450$15.60.65
74Civil Engineers1540$89,860$43.20.2
75Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers1540$64,660$31.090.4
76Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other1470$82,130$39.490.2
77Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other1470$47,950$23.050
78Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders1470$34,240$16.460.2
79Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators1440$67,050$32.240.2
80First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1430$72,150$34.690.4
81Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters1430$64,900$31.20.3
82Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians1420$54,880$26.380.2
83Packers and Packagers, Hand1410$30,150$14.490.4
84Security Guards1380$34,600$16.630.7
85Network and Computer Systems Administrators1310$78,900$37.930.2
86Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1300$47,330$22.750.5
87Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers1270$39,430$18.960.2
88Financial Managers1250$138,520$66.590.4
89Mechanical Engineers1240$89,380$42.970.2
90Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists1230$73,980$35.570.1
91Public Relations Specialists1230$69,870$33.590.2
92Social and Human Service Assistants1230$42,690$20.520.3
93Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks1220$37,060$17.820.4
94Buyers and Purchasing Agents1210$61,190$29.420.25
95Industrial Engineers1210$81,720$39.290.2
96Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products1190$75,270$36.190.2
97Computer and Information Systems Managers1170$130,650$62.810.3
98Pharmacy Technicians1170$35,870$17.240.3
99Tellers1150$32,580$15.660.25
100Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers1150$45,280$21.770.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Madison Colleges
Madison colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Madison Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$54,300395,290
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$41,20054,220
Sales and Related Occupations$44,54034,670
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$24,88031,300
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$70,88030,490
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$56,63026,440
Production Occupations$40,67025,110
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$37,21025,020
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$81,06024,340
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$85,35023,850
Management Occupations$117,73018,890
Construction and Extraction Occupations$54,92016,180
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,99014,680
Customer Service Representatives$40,62012,880
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$50,78012,680
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,33011,600
Retail Salespersons$27,9609,930
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$94,6208,900
Fast Food and Counter Workers$21,8708,850
Registered Nurses$80,4908,650
Office Clerks, General$36,7808,430
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$66,8308,240
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$80,8308,140
Cashiers$24,2107,880
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,1206,860
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,7206,400
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,5106,380
Protective Service Occupations$47,9906,090
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,1106,070
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,6705,730
Stockers and Order Fillers$30,2805,630
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$42,1405,580
Waiters and Waitresses$25,3205,230
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,5804,940
General and Operations Managers$130,2704,860
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$71,7004,750
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,3504,090
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,9303,990
Bartenders$22,6803,980
Management Analysts$89,0703,950
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$52,1603,870
Accountants and Auditors$70,8303,840
Computer Systems Analysts$93,8403,840
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,5003,750
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,0303,730
Nursing Assistants$33,9203,500
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,2203,460
Receptionists and Information Clerks$33,9403,400
Cooks, Restaurant$26,3402,980
Legal Occupations$95,2902,830

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Madison, Wisconsin Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$54,300395,290
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$41,20054,220
Sales and Related Occupations$44,54034,670
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$70,88030,490
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$56,63026,440
Production Occupations$40,67025,110
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$37,21025,020
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$81,06024,340
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$85,35023,850
Management Occupations$117,73018,890
Construction and Extraction Occupations$54,92016,180
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,99014,680
Customer Service Representatives$40,62012,880
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$50,78012,680
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,33011,600
Retail Salespersons$27,9609,930
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$94,6208,900
Registered Nurses$80,4908,650
Office Clerks, General$36,7808,430
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$66,8308,240
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$80,8308,140
Personal Care and Service Occupations$32,1206,860
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,7206,400
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$52,5106,380
Protective Service Occupations$47,9906,090
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,1106,070
Community and Social Service Occupations$47,6705,730
Stockers and Order Fillers$30,2805,630
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$42,1405,580
Waiters and Waitresses$25,3205,230
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,5804,940
General and Operations Managers$130,2704,860
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$71,7004,750
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,3504,090
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,9303,990
Management Analysts$89,0703,950
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$52,1603,870
Accountants and Auditors$70,8303,840
Computer Systems Analysts$93,8403,840
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$39,5003,750
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,0303,730
Nursing Assistants$33,9203,500
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,2203,460
Receptionists and Information Clerks$33,9403,400
Cooks, Restaurant$26,3402,980
Legal Occupations$95,2902,830
Construction Laborers$43,8102,810
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$33,2702,750
Carpenters$55,2902,700
Human Resources Specialists$62,5502,550

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