Design and optimize the processes that turn crude oil and natural gas into fuels, plastics, and chemicals — blending chemical and process engineering in the energy sector. Median salary in Madison: $120K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Madison, Wisconsin. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Petrochemical Engineers in Madison earn approximately 4% lower than the US national median for this role — a $5,000 discount on annual base salary. Madison's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 102 (US avg = 100).
Adjusted for Madison's cost-of-living index (102), the median Petrochemical Engineer salary buys the equivalent of $117,647 in a US-average-cost city. That's $7,353 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Only 15% of Petrochemical Engineer positions offer remote flexibility, meaning the Madison salary above represents what local employers actually pay — not a remote-anywhere rate. Geographic constraints reinforce the local market, so the salary range above is more directly applicable than for remote-friendly roles.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $120K by 2030.
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The median Petrochemical Engineer salary in Madison, WI is $120,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Madison–WI metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Petrochemical Engineers in Madison with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $91,000 and $120,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $120,000 to $156,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $156,000 to $197,000 or more.
Madison has a cost of living index of 102 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Madison are close to the national average. Wisconsin has a 5.3% state income tax rate.
Bachelor's in Chemical or Petroleum Engineering. 15% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.