Urban and Regional Planners pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,450 or more. The middle half of urban and regional planners in Madison earn between $81,000 and $107,620.
- $62K10th
- $81K25th
- $104KMedian
- $108K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,540 | $8,045 | $46.41 |
| Median | $103,940 | $8,662 | $49.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,000 | $6,750 | $38.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $107,620 | $8,968 | $51.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Urban and Regional Planners pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Urban and regional planners in Madison earn 14% more than the Wisconsin average ($84,470) and about the same as the U.S. average ($94,750). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $89,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $96,540 | $103,940 | $62,380 | $131,450 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $84,470 | $84,290 | $50,230 | $116,240 | 1,100 |
| United States | $94,750 | $89,320 | $60,010 | $134,490 | 44,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Urban and Regional Planners salary after taxes in Madison
On the average salary of $96,540, a single filer in Madison takes home about $72,524 a year, or $6,044 a month and $2,789 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for urban and regional planners? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $96,540 buys what about $99,232 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Urban and Regional Planners salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 7 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for urban and regional planners
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($141,020).
- San Jose, CA$141,020
- San Francisco, CA$136,150
- Napa, CA$131,710
- Santa Rosa, CA$123,620
- Vallejo, CA$122,960
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Urban and Regional Planners salary in Madison: questions
How much do urban and regional planners make an hour in Madison?
$46.42 an hour on average, and $49.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level urban and regional planners salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the urban and regional planners take-home pay in Madison?
About $72,524 a year ($6,044 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,540.
Do urban and regional planners earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($94,750).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3051; area Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.