HR Assistant salary in Madison, WI
Madison pays HR assistants close to the national norm. The median is $50,810 a year1, 4.4% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $48,690 and about level with the US median of $50,610. Among US areas it comes in at #104 of 384. BLS counts about 280 HR assistants here, 15% of the Wisconsin total: a small pool for a local search.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Madison, WI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Madison against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $30,530 | $50,810 | $60,940 | |
| Wisconsin | $36,710 | $48,690 | $63,040 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Madison earns $44,790–$58,230. The top tenth earns $60,940 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.8 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,440 wide, against $13,990 across Wisconsin and $15,770 nationally: employers in Madison pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an HR assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,530 | $2,544 | $14.68 | $39,394 |
| 25th percentile | $44,790 | $3,732 | $21.53 | $57,794 |
| Median | $50,810 | $4,234 | $24.43 | $65,561 |
| 75th percentile | $58,230 | $4,852 | $28.00 | $75,135 |
| 90th percentile | $60,940 | $5,078 | $29.30 | $78,632 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,020 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,420, or about $9,574 once benefits are added. 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 $50,610 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Madison, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $48,690 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Madison
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 $14,751 to the $50,810 median and brings it to $65,561 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 HR assistants 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 Madison
Of the 17 roles we track in Madison, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($51,410) and medical administrative assistants ($48,380). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,990.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +4.8% | 3,760 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +1.2% | 4,630 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 280 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -4.8% | 2,080 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.5% | 7,120 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Madison (+0.4%), between recruiters (+0.9%) and accountants (-3.0%). The typical role here is at +0.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. HR assistants hold 0.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Madison, 0.7% across Wisconsin and 0.6% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 14 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $45,450 in Wausau to $51,630 in the Western Wisconsin nonmetro area, a gap of $6,180 a year. The one area in Wisconsin with more HR assistants, Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($48,630), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Madison | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +1.6% | 100 | |
| Kenosha, WI | +0.8% | 50 | |
| Madison, WI | this area | 280 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | -0.4% | 30 | |
| Green Bay, WI | -1.3% | 100 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -2.9% | 50 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | -4.0% | 40 |
Madison against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Madison is #55 of 382 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Wisconsin, Philadelphia-Camden and Salisbury pay just above Madison and Cincinnati and Des Moines-West Des Moines just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Madison. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Madison | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury, MD | +0.2% | 50 | pay | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +0.0% | 1,630 | pay | |
| Madison, WI | this area | 280 | ||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -0.0% | 610 | pay | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | -0.0% | 310 | pay | |
| Syracuse, NY | -1.2% | 280 | jobs | |
| Jacksonville, FL | -2.1% | 270 | jobs | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -12.4% | 290 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Madison, WI?
About $65,561 a year at the median, or $5,463 a month: $50,810 in pay plus about $14,751 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do HR assistants earn in Madison?
The median was $50,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,530, the 90th $60,940, and the middle half earned $44,790 to $58,230.
Is Madison cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for HR assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $50,810 against $48,690 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Kenosha at $51,200, the next down Janesville-Beloit at $50,610.
How many HR assistants work in Madison?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. That is 15% of the Wisconsin total of 1,890. Only Milwaukee-Waukesha has more in Wisconsin.
Does an HR assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Madison?
Yes: $2,430 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,810 and $48,380.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: 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 2026-11-13.