Doctoral (Research)+6% vs national median607 grads tracked
Social Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 12th of 61 doctoral (research) programs in Social Sciences by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$84,189
middle 50%: $64,331 – $112,903
Median · 5 years out
$98,263
middle 50%: $78,272 – $128,738
Median · 10 years out
$111,903
middle 50%: $85,606 – $151,185
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Social Sciences (doctoral (research)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Research doctorate alumni in Social Sciences at the University of Wisconsin - Madison report a median first-year salary of $84k. Mid-career earnings reach $98k, while year-10 medians hit $112k.
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
3.8 yrs
≈ $4,049 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Houston
$104,958 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$103,633 · 5 yrs out
Georgia State University
$100,451 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$99,870 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$99,731 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$98,232 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Dallas
$97,859 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
$96,986 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$96,406 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Albany
$95,797 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$95,159 · 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
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
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$123,822 · 5 yrs out