Accountant salary in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area
The South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $77,340 a year1 is 2.6% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $79,400, and 7.6% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #226 of 521 areas. About 1,310 accountants work here, 5% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | $56,140 | $77,340 | $121,580 | |
| Wisconsin | $58,340 | $79,400 | $127,800 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area earns $63,120–$99,250. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $121,580, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($84,170) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $36,130 wide, between the figure for Wisconsin ($35,800) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $56,140 | $4,678 | $26.99 | $72,439 |
| 25th percentile | $63,120 | $5,260 | $30.35 | $81,445 |
| Median | $77,340 | $6,445 | $37.18 | $99,794 |
| 75th percentile | $99,250 | $8,271 | $47.72 | $128,065 |
| 90th percentile | $121,580 | $10,132 | $58.45 | $156,877 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $21,910 over the median, the 25th only $14,220 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $28,271 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $79,400 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,454 to the $77,340 median and brings it to $99,794 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($91,460); recruiters come next at $65,570.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +18.3% | 860 | |
| Accountant | this role | 1,310 | |
| Recruiter | -15.2% | 910 | |
| Office Manager | -18.1% | 1,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.7% | 180 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area (-7.6%), between payroll specialists (-7.4%) and data entry specialists (-8.2%). The typical role here is at -7.6%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 8.9% of the jobs in the 16 of these roles with a job count in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area, 9.0% across Wisconsin and 9.2% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $74,210 in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area to $81,130 in Madison, a gap of $6,920 a year. All 3 areas in Wisconsin with more accountants than the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area also pay more, among them Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($80,290) and Madison, WI ($81,130).
| Area | Median | vs the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WI | +0.4% | 530 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | +0.3% | 690 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | +0.2% | 540 | |
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,310 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | -0.3% | 500 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | -0.6% | 330 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | -0.9% | 630 |
the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area is #145 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Toledo and Duluth pay just above the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area and Staunton-Stuarts Draft and Wildwood-The Villages just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey, WA | +22.1% | 1,330 | jobs | |
| Peoria, IL | +2.8% | 1,350 | jobs | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | +0.1% | 940 | pay | |
| Toledo, OH | +0.1% | 2,130 | pay | |
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,310 | ||
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | -0.1% | 320 | pay | |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | -0.1% | 180 | pay | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -0.8% | 1,280 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro)?
About $99,794 a year at the median, or $8,316 a month: $77,340 in pay plus about $22,454 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area?
The median was $77,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $56,140, the 90th $121,580, and the middle half earned $63,120 to $99,250.
Is the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $77,340 against $79,400 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Racine-Mount Pleasant at $77,520, the next down Janesville-Beloit at $77,100.
How many accountants work in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,310 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Wisconsin total of 25,100. 3 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Green Bay, with about 1,490.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area?
Yes: $11,770 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,340 and $65,570.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.