Financial Advisor.
Madison.
$84,000
median salary, 5% below the national average
$59,000 to $119,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Financial Advisor salary in Madison is $84,000, 5% below the national average. Entry level starts near $59,000. Experienced professionals push past $119,000. Madison is a growing tech hub anchored by the University of Wisconsin and Epic Systems, one of the largest health IT companies. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $75,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$55,000
to $67,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$71,000
to $88,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$92,000
to $109,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$105,000
to $130,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $20,000 to the total package.
Base
$84,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $104,000
How Madison compares
Madison, WI
$84,000
Cost of living: 5% below average
National Average
$88,000
Madison is $4,000 below
Financial Advisor salary by city
Salary by role in Madison
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Financial Advisor 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. Assets under management (AUM) and client acquisition ability are the dominant pay factors. Advisors managing $50 million or more in AUM earn substantially more through fee-based compensation. The wirehouse versus independent RIA distinction matters: wirehouses offer higher base salaries, while independent advisors have higher long-term earnings potential.
Associate advisors earn $50,000 to $70,000 during training. Advisors with established books earn $80,000 to $130,000. Senior advisors managing $50 million or more in AUM reach $150,000 to $250,000. Partners and principals at RIA firms with large AUM can earn $300,000 to $1 million or more. 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. Fee-based advisors earn 0.5 to 1.5% of AUM annually, making a $100 million book worth $500,000 to $1.5 million in annual revenue before firm payout. Commission-based advisors earn front-end loads and trailing commissions. Production bonuses and retention bonuses add 10 to 30% at wirehouses. 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 $84,000, 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 Financial Advisors in Madison runs from $59,000 to $119,000. 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 Occupational Therapist in Madison earns $85,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Madison is Distinguished Engineer at $307,000
Common questions.
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