Are you considering exploring software engineering careers in Wisconsin, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted an extensive analysis of 421 software engineering positions across Wisconsin to provide a detailed overview of the Software Engineer salary landscape. This article details software engineer salaries in Wisconsin for 2025, exploring how much software engineers make and the key factors that influence compensation as revealed by our salary survey data.
Average Software Engineer Salary in Wisconsin
The median Wisconsin software engineer salary is $130,332 USD per year or $62.66 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into software engineer earnings in Wisconsin and serves as a benchmark for engineering salaries in the state.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Civil Engineering Salaries
Educational Level
Here’s where it gets interesting – the data reveals some surprising patterns that challenge conventional wisdom about education and Software Engineer pay in Wisconsin. While Madison’s average tech salary sits at $83K annually, our Wisconsin-specific salary survey data shows significantly higher compensation across the board.
The PhD Premium is Real: PhD holders earn a substantial 64% more than bachelor’s degree holders, suggesting that advanced research skills and specialised knowledge command premium compensation in Wisconsin’s evolving tech landscape.
Software engineering roles in Wisconsin overwhelmingly require a bachelor’s degree, with over 80% of positions listing this as the minimum requirement. However, the small but significant percentage of PhD positions (3.87%) command dramatically higher salaries, suggesting specialized research roles in Wisconsin’s growing biotech and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Years of Experience
The data reveals fascinating insights about career progression in Wisconsin’s tech scene. The most dramatic salary jump occurs between 2-3 years of experience, where compensation increases by roughly 10% ($12,000). However, the real acceleration happens at the 4-year mark, with another significant leap to $152,886.8 – representing a 16% increase.
The 5-Year Sweet Spot: Companies clearly prize the 5-year experience level, as it represents the largest segment of job openings (27.05% of all positions). This suggests that mid-level software engineers are in highest demand in Wisconsin’s market.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 3.91% | 11 |
| 1 year | 1.78% | 5 |
| 2 years | 12.10% | 34 |
| 3 years | 18.15% | 51 |
| 4 years | 12.81% | 36 |
| 5 years | 27.05% | 76 |
| 6 years | 7.12% | 20 |
| 7 years | 3.91% | 11 |
| 8 years | 6.05% | 17 |
| 9 years | 0.36% | 1 |
| 10+ years | 6.76% | 19 |
Experience Gaps: The scarcity of 1-year experience positions (only 1.78%) indicates that Wisconsin employers prefer either fresh graduates they can train extensively or professionals with at least 2 years of proven experience.
Seniority Level
The progression from internship to principal level represents an impressive 456% increase in compensation, highlighting the tremendous value of experience and leadership capabilities in Wisconsin’s software engineering field. This dramatic salary growth provides clear evidence of the career advancement potential available in the state.
The Management Premium: The jump from Lead to Manager ($181,333 vs $133,158) represents a 36% increase, demonstrating that Wisconsin companies significantly reward those who take on people management responsibilities.
Principal Engineer Territory: Software development roles are projected to grow 17% from 2023 to 2033 nationally, and Wisconsin’s principal-level compensation reflects this demand for senior technical leadership.
Remote Work
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Remote | $181,599 | 136 |
| Hybrid | $134,111 | 117 |
| Onsite | $124,799 | 168 |
Here’s where Wisconsin shows its competitive edge in the evolving software engineering landscape. Remote positions command a substantial 45% premium over onsite roles – a finding that aligns with the average salary for a Remote Software Engineer is $141,059 per year in United States but shows Wisconsin remote roles paying even better.
Why the Remote Premium Exists:
- Wisconsin companies compete for talent with coastal tech hubs
- Remote roles often require more self-direction and proven track records
- Companies save on office overhead and pass some savings to employees
- Major players like Microsoft and Google have set up operations here, driving up competition for talent
The Hybrid Middle Ground: Hybrid arrangements split the difference at $134,110.9, offering 7% more than onsite but 26% less than fully remote positions.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Madison | $178,103 | $85.63 |
| Waukesha | $155,717 | $74.86 |
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul | $150,800 | $72.50 |
| Franklin | $141,854 | $68.20 |
| Green Bay | $140,400 | $67.50 |
| Middleton | $138,550 | $66.61 |
| Oak Creek | $135,200 | $65.00 |
| Brown Deer | $133,513 | $64.19 |
| Milwaukee | $132,235 | $63.57 |
| Oshkosh | $130,333 | $62.66 |
Madison leads Wisconsin with compelling reasons beyond just the numbers. Madison’s tech scene is absolutely thriving, with over 700 tech companies driving unprecedented growth in 2025.
The city’s $178,102.9 average salary reflects several key factors:
- University of Wisconsin Connection: Access to fresh talent and research partnerships
- Biotech Hub: Madison’s tech industry is projected to grow 22% over five years, with the biohealth Tech Hub expected to create over 30,000 direct jobs.
- Cost of Living Advantage: Madison’s competitive advantages include lower living costs compared to other tech hubs
The Milwaukee Metro Opportunity: Waukesha, Franklin, and the greater Milwaukee area offer strong Software Engineer salaries while providing access to a larger metropolitan job market and cultural amenities.
Top Paying Companies in Wisconsin
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Tobin | $260,000 | $125.00 |
| Affirm | $233,353 | $112.19 |
| GE Healthcare | $232,000 | $111.54 |
| $229,750 | $110.46 | |
| Microsoft | $198,371 | $95.37 |
| GEICO | $195,000 | $93.75 |
| Cast & Crew | $190,000 | $91.35 |
| Zendesk | $181,000 | $87.02 |
| Jobot Consulting | $176,800 | $85.00 |
| Sony Interactive Entertainment | $165,450 | $79.55 |
| EY | $157,950 | $75.94 |
| Baxter International | $152,000 | $73.08 |
| American Family Insurance | $151,250 | $72.72 |
| Mindteck | $145,600 | $70.00 |
| CrowdStrike | $145,000 | $69.71 |
What Top Companies Pay in Wisconsin
The presence of major tech companies in Wisconsin creates a fascinating compensation landscape that benefits Software Engineers across experience levels. Russell Tobin leads the pack at $260,000 annually – a figure that rivals compensation in traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley, but with Wisconsin’s significantly lower cost of living.
The Big Tech Invasion: Major players like Microsoft and Google have set up operations here, creating a tech ecosystem that’s predicted to generate $9 billion in economic impact. These companies bring coastal compensation standards to the Midwest, driving up salaries across the entire market.
Healthcare Technology Boom: GE Healthcare and Baxter International represent Wisconsin’s strength in medical technology, offering competitive Software Engineer salaries in a stable, growing industry sector.
Financial Services Premium: GEICO and American Family Insurance demonstrate how traditional industries are competing for tech talent, offering substantial salaries to build their digital capabilities.
The Consulting Advantage: Companies like EY and Jobot Consulting offer strong compensation along with diverse project experience, making them attractive to software engineers seeking variety and professional growth.
How to Maximize Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive salary survey data analysis, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your Software Engineer salary in Wisconsin:
Pursue the PhD Track Selectively: While PhD positions are rare (3.87% of openings), they offer a 64% salary premium. Consider this path if you’re interested in research, machine learning, or cutting-edge technology development.
Target the 5-Year Experience Sweet Spot: Companies clearly prioritize candidates with 5 years of experience (27.05% of all positions). If you’re approaching this milestone, it’s an ideal time to negotiate or job-hop.
Embrace Remote Work: With a 45% salary premium, remote positions offer the best compensation. Remote work isn’t disappearing, but it’s stabilizing, suggesting companies are settling into hybrid models.
Consider Geographic Arbitrage: Madison’s $178,102.9 average salary combined with lower cost of living creates excellent value compared to coastal markets.
Explore our detailed article on the in-demand software engineering skills required in 2025
Future Trends in Software Engineering Salaries
Wisconsin’s software engineering market continues to evolve, with several trends shaping compensation:
Emerging Technology Focus
Industrial Automation: Industrial Automation (+73%): The demand for robotics, smart manufacturing, and AI-enhanced production is fueling tech hiring in this sector. Wisconsin’s manufacturing heritage positions it well for this growth.
Healthcare Technology: The state’s biotech hub development will likely drive continued salary growth in medical software engineering.
Financial Technology: Investment Banking (+91%): Financial firms are aggressively hiring software engineers, likely due to the increasing automation of financial services, benefiting Wisconsin’s insurance and financial services sector.
Market Dynamics
New grads now account for just 7% of hires at Big Tech firms—down 25% from 2023. At startups, the numbers are even lower—under 6% of hires are new grads. This trend favors experienced Wisconsin developers who can command higher salaries.
Competition for Talent: 49% struggling to find the right people means salary premiums will likely continue for skilled Software Engineers.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 421 publicly available software engineering salaries in Wisconsin. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average and median figures. This salary survey data analysis was completed in August 2025, providing the most up-to-date information on software engineer earnings in Wisconsin.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers exceptional earning potential across Wisconsin, with the median Software Engineer salary reaching $130,332.5 USD annually. Our salary survey data reveals that while education provides a foundation, experience, work arrangement, and strategic career choices significantly influence salary levels.
The Wisconsin Advantage: Unlike coastal tech hubs where high salaries are offset by extreme living costs, Wisconsin offers strong Software Engineer pay with affordable housing, shorter commutes, and a growing technology ecosystem. Madison’s tech job market has shown incredible momentum, with a 30% growth spurt in recent years, suggesting continued salary growth ahead.
When considering your total compensation package, remember that Wisconsin’s software engineering landscape offers a compelling blend of financial rewards and quality of life benefits. Whether you’re a DevOps engineer, mobile developer, or any other specialized role within the software engineering field, Wisconsin’s tech scene provides ample opportunities for career growth and competitive earnings.
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