Carbon Accountant.
Madison.
$78,000
median salary, 5% below the national average
$59,000 to $103,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Carbon Accountant in Madison earns a median of $78,000 in 2026. That is 5% below the national average. The range runs from $59,000 to $103,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Expertise in GHG Protocol, carbon verification standards, and lifecycle assessment tools drives pay variance.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $70,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$51,000
to $62,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$66,000
to $82,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$86,000
to $101,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$98,000
to $121,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $20,000 to the total package.
Base
$78,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $98,000
How Madison compares
Madison, WI
$78,000
Cost of living: 5% below average
National Average
$82,000
Madison is $4,000 below
Carbon Accountant salary by city
Salary by role in Madison
What you should know
Here is what the Carbon Accountant 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. Expertise in GHG Protocol, carbon verification standards, and lifecycle assessment tools drives pay variance. Accountants working on Scope 3 supply chain emissions for large corporations or preparing SEC climate disclosures earn 15 to 25% more than those handling basic Scope 1 and 2 reporting.
Junior Carbon Accountants start at $62,000 to $72,000. Mid-level professionals with verification experience earn $78,000 to $95,000. Senior Carbon Accountants and Program Managers command $98,000 to $120,000, while Directors of Carbon Management exceed $135,000. 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. Bonuses of 10 to 15% are common at consulting firms and large corporations. The field's rapid growth means frequent recruiter outreach and strong negotiating leverage. Many employers fund GHG Protocol and ISO 14064 training. 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 $78,000, 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 Carbon Accountants in Madison runs from $59,000 to $103,000. 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
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Common questions.
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