Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Wisconsin
The median accountant in Wisconsin earned $79,400 a year in May 2025[1], 5.1% below the US median of $83,680. That puts Wisconsin at #24 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $58,340 | $79,400 | $127,800 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Wisconsin earns $65,000–$100,800; the top tenth earns $127,800 or more, 2.2 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Wisconsin median that makes about $113,429 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Wisconsin
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $101,120 | 4,440 | |
| Appleton, WI | $101,030 | 1,020 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | $105,830 | 390 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $102,840 | 7,960 | |
| Kenosha, WI | $100,170 | 570 | |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $100,440 | 680 | |
| Green Bay, WI | $97,570 | 1,490 | |
| Wausau, WI | $98,790 | 530 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $98,650 | 690 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $96,650 | 540 | |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $99,250 | 1,310 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $97,840 | 500 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $102,670 | 330 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $94,100 | 630 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | $95,830 | 670 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $96,070 | 1,210 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $93,260 | 280 |
Madison, WI pays the most ($81,130) and Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area the least ($74,210): $6,920 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Wisconsin?
The median was $79,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $65,000 to $100,800.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Wisconsin?
About $113,429 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Wisconsin do accountants earn the most?
Madison, WI, with a median of $81,130 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.