AI Performance Benchmarker.
Madison.
$130,000
median salary, 2% below the national average
$99,000 to $166,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what AI Performance Benchmarkers actually make in Madison: $99,000 at the 25th percentile, $130,000 at the median, and $166,000 at the 75th. That is 2% below the national average. Madison is a growing tech hub anchored by the University of Wisconsin and Epic Systems, one of the largest health IT companies. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $117,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$85,000
to $104,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$111,000
to $137,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$143,000
to $169,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$163,000
to $202,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $64,000 to the total package.
Base
$130,000
Equity
$39,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $194,000
How Madison compares
Madison, WI
$130,000
Cost of living: 5% below average
National Average
$132,000
Madison is $2,000 below
AI Performance Benchmarker salary by city
Salary by role in Madison
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Performance Benchmarker offer in Madison, understand the terrain. Madison is a growing tech hub anchored by the University of Wisconsin and Epic Systems, one of the largest health IT companies. The city consistently ranks among the best places to live and has a thriving startup ecosystem. Salaries are competitive relative to the modest cost of living. Compensation reflects expertise in designing, running, and interpreting AI benchmark suites. Engineers who can create fair and meaningful evaluations for model capabilities, hardware performance, and system throughput earn premiums. Experience with both academic benchmarks and production workload profiling is highly valued. Statistical rigor in result analysis and reporting is essential.
Junior benchmarking engineers start at $85,000 to $105,000. Mid-level engineers designing benchmark suites reach $125,000 to $150,000. Senior engineers leading benchmarking programs earn $155,000 to $190,000. Directors of AI performance evaluation at hardware or model companies can reach $210,000 to $260,000. In Madison, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at AI hardware or model companies adds $15,000 to $55,000 annually. Bonuses of 10% to 15% are standard. Access to cutting-edge hardware for testing is a significant perk. Conference travel and publication budgets support career development and industry visibility. And on the tax side: wisconsin's top income tax rate is 7.65%. Madison has no city income tax. The moderate state rate is offset by the affordable cost of living and strong employer base. When someone quotes you $130,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference Epic Systems compensation benchmarks. Epic sets the salary standard for tech in Madison and most employers in the area compete against their packages. The range for AI Performance Benchmarkers in Madison runs from $99,000 to $166,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Pharmacist in Madison earns $129,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Madison is Distinguished Engineer at $307,000
Common questions.
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