Autonomous Vehicle Engineer.
Madison.
$162,000
median salary, 5% below the national average
$124,000 to $200,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Madison is 5% cheaper than the national average. For Autonomous Vehicle Engineers, that shakes out to a median of $162,000, with the full range spanning $124,000 to $200,000. Compensation scales with expertise in sensor fusion, path planning, and functional safety standards like ISO 26262. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $146,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$105,000
to $130,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$138,000
to $170,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$178,000
to $211,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$203,000
to $251,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $48,000 to the total package.
Base
$162,000
Equity
$28,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $210,000
Autonomous Vehicle Engineer salary by company
Total compensation estimates include base, equity, bonus, and signing. Ranges reflect mid to senior level. Derived from public H-1B LCA filings, SEC proxy statements, and aggregated self-reported data.
How Madison compares
Madison, WI
$162,000
Cost of living: 5% below average
National Average
$170,000
Madison is $8,000 below
Autonomous Vehicle Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Madison
What you should know
Here is what the Autonomous Vehicle Engineer market actually looks like in Madison. 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 scales with expertise in sensor fusion, path planning, and functional safety standards like ISO 26262. Engineers with experience shipping L3+ autonomy systems are exceptionally rare and command top dollar. Proficiency in simulation environments and real-world testing frameworks also drives premiums.
Entry-level AV engineers start at $115,000 to $135,000. Mid-level engineers working on perception or planning stacks reach $155,000 to $185,000. Senior AV engineers earn $190,000 to $240,000, while staff-level engineers at companies like Waymo or Cruise can exceed $350,000 in total compensation. 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. AV companies offer substantial equity packages, often adding $50,000 to $150,000 annually at well-funded startups. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $50,000 are common for experienced hires. Relocation packages to AV hubs like Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Phoenix are standard. 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 $162,000, 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 Autonomous Vehicle Engineers in Madison runs from $124,000 to $200,000. 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 Robotics AI Engineer in Madison earns $163,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Madison is Distinguished Engineer at $307,000
Common questions.
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