Human Resources Manager salary in Madison, WI
Human Resources Managers in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $140,680 a year ($67.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $92,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,920 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $149,280. Pay here is 5% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $133,490. There are 1.6 human resources managers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $150,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources managers in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,950 | $44.69 |
| 25th percentile | $114,410 | $55.00 |
| Median | $140,680 | $67.63 |
| 75th percentile | $170,160 | $81.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,920 | $99.48 |
| Average (mean) | $150,110 | $72.17 |
Half of human resources managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,723.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,861.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,410.77 |
| Weekly | $2,705.38 |
| Hourly | $67.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Manager salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $159,390 | 3,500 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $139,830 | 80 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $139,360 | 90 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $139,060 | 50 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $136,530 | 1,190 |
| Green Bay, WI | $135,400 | 220 |
| Kenosha, WI | $133,330 | 80 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $132,850 | 100 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $131,830 | 160 |
| Wausau, WI | $131,240 | 70 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $130,520 | 70 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $127,130 | 80 |
| Appleton, WI | $126,580 | 120 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $124,290 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for human resources managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 |
| Massachusetts | $181,780 |
| New York | $176,650 |
| New Jersey | $172,440 |
| California | $170,080 |
| Rhode Island | $167,110 |
| Colorado | $166,400 |
| Virginia | $165,980 |
| Connecticut | $165,930 |
| Washington | $165,530 |
See Human Resources Manager pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $168,900 | $81.20 |
| Financial Manager | $148,970 | $71.62 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $127,020 | $61.07 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $112,280 | $53.98 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $100,340 | $48.24 |
| Facilities Manager | $118,990 | $57.21 |
| Purchasing Manager | $126,170 | $60.66 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $127,670 | $61.38 |
| Training and Development Managers | $120,300 | $57.84 |
| General and Operations Managers | $126,620 | $60.88 |
| Managers, All Other | $129,330 | $62.18 |
| Sales Manager | $146,380 | $70.37 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $131,640 | $63.29 |
| Marketing Manager | $138,270 | $66.48 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in Madison, WI?
The median salary for human resources managers in the Madison, WI metro area is $140,680 a year, or $67.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $92,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources managers make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of human resources managers in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $206,920 a year. The top 25% earn $170,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources managers in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $92,950 a year, and a quarter of human resources managers earn $114,410 or less.
How many human resources managers work in Madison, WI?
About 660 human resources managers are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.