Biological Technician salary in Madison, WI

Based on 47 certified H-1B filings in the Madison, WI metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Middleton, Cottage Grove.

Also listed as: Research Associate (Biology)

Median salary$54,080
Middle 50%$52.8k–$56.6k
vs. national median−7%comparison median $58,000
Filings47FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $42,250 and $72,588.
PercentileSalary
10th$46,241
25th$52,770
50th (median)$54,080
75th$56,625
90th$68,938

Salary by year

Median salary

$30k $45k $60k FY2021: median $42,733 (10 filings) FY2024: median $48,006 (18 filings) FY2025: median $54,080 (24 filings) FY2026: median $56,411 (23 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 4 filings FY20 FY2021: 10 filings FY21 FY2022: 8 filings FY22 FY2023: 6 filings FY23 FY2024: 18 filings FY24 FY2025: 24 filings FY25 FY2026: 23 filings FY26 24
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020–––4
FY2021$42,733$36,720$48,14510
FY2022–––8
FY2023–––6
FY2024$48,006$47,585$48,75218
FY2025$54,080$48,362$54,08024
FY2026$56,411$56,011$62,49623

Cost of living

Madison's median Biological Technician salary of $54,080 is worth about $55,600 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Madison = 97.3).

Compared with all workers here

All Biological Technicians in the Madison, WI area earned a median of $51,750 in May 2025 (1,310 employed). The H-1B median here is $54,080, 5% higher.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Top employers filing

EmployerMedianFilings
Catalent Pharma Solutions$56,09530
University of Wisconsin Systemtoo few8
PPD Development, L.P.too few4
Daniscotoo few2
Labcorp Early Development Laboratoriestoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $56,193 14
Mid-level · Level II $54,080 30
Senior · Level III too few 2
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$43,306$56,19314
Mid-level · Level II$45,406$54,08030

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.