Economics Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $57,850, growing to $89,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Economics Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$26,700
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$665,832
Lifetime earnings premium ($756,500) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Economics
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$61K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$56K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$69K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$56K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$51K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$59K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$56K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$70K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Madison
Business Analytics
$69K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Madison — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Economics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Madison.