Chief Science Officer.
Madison.
$295,000
median salary, 5% below the national average
$230,000 to $383,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
If you are evaluating a Chief Science Officer offer in Madison, WI, here is the reality: $230,000 to $383,000, with $295,000 as the midpoint. 5% below the national average. Prior exits, board-level experience, and public company exposure create significant compensation variance. Do not accept the first number.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $265,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$192,000
to $236,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$251,000
to $310,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$325,000
to $384,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$369,000
to $457,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $178,000 to the total package.
Base
$295,000
Equity
$94,000
Bonus
$60,000
Signing
$24,000
Estimated total: $473,000
How Madison compares
Madison, WI
$295,000
Cost of living: 5% below average
National Average
$310,000
Madison is $15,000 below
Chief Science Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Madison
What you should know
Here is what the Chief Science Officer 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. Prior exits, board-level experience, and public company exposure create significant compensation variance. Chief Science Officers with experience managing through acquisitions, IPOs, or rapid scaling phases command premium packages. Industry reputation and network effects amplify negotiation leverage at this level.
Chief Science Officers typically earn $242,000 to $403,000, with top performers at large organizations reaching $524,000. Lateral moves into adjacent executive functions or board advisory roles are common progression paths. C-suite advancement depends on demonstrated business impact and organizational scope. 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 top-tier companies adds 30% to 60% above base salary. Annual bonuses of 15% to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common when changing roles. Refresher equity grants vest annually. Relocation packages and executive benefits like financial planning are typical. 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 $295,000, 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 Chief Science Officers in Madison runs from $230,000 to $383,000. 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 Principal LLM Engineer in Madison earns $294,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in Madison is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $339,000
Common questions.
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