Master's0% vs national median450 grads tracked
Physical Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 53rd of 132 master's programs in Physical Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$60,696
middle 50%: $43,247 – $87,228
Median · 5 years out
$83,297
middle 50%: $63,323 – $118,495
Median · 10 years out
$111,373
middle 50%: $81,063 – $158,684
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Physical Sciences (master's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Physical Sciences master's graduates earn a $61k median salary in year 1. Pay scales to $83k by year 5 and $111k by year 10.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
5 yrs
≈ $5,487 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$85,473 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$84,962 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$83,858 · 5 yrs out
Binghamton University
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$83,321 · 5 yrs out
University of New Orleans (The)
$83,137 · 5 yrs out
East Carolina University
$83,018 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$82,929 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$82,763 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Queens College
$82,426 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$227,440 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$191,060 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$179,858 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$176,530 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,036 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$140,310 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$139,926 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$133,218 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$127,595 · 5 yrs out