Introduction
Epic Systems doesn't hire many people with the title "product manager". Instead, product-oriented graduates join as software developers, quality managers (QMs), project managers or technical solutions engineers, all based in Verona, Wisconsin. This guide gives 2026 salary estimates in USD for these roles, explains how Epic structures pay and how it grows over time. Figures combine PayScale, Levels.fyi, Glassdoor and candidate reports, and should be treated as estimates.
Epic Systems Product Manager Salary Overview
| Role | Typical 2026 starting base | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $120,000–140,000 | Highest-paid new-grad role; owns feature design |
| Quality Manager | $80,000–95,000 | Workflow testing and release quality |
| Project Manager (implementation) | $70,000–85,000 | PayScale reports an average base of about $67K (range $51K–74K); Levels.fyi shows a median total of about $87K |
| Technical Solutions Engineer | $80,000–95,000 | Integrations and system performance |
| UX Designer | $85,000–100,000 | Design for clinical and patient apps |
Madison has a lower cost of living than coastal tech hubs, so these salaries go further than similar numbers in San Francisco or New York.
Understanding Epic Systems' PM Compensation Structure
Epic's compensation is mainly cash-based:
- Base salary: The largest component, reviewed annually.
- Annual bonus or profit-related pay: Varies by year and performance.
- Retirement plan: 401(k) with company contributions.
- Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, and a well-known sabbatical programme (about four weeks after five years of service, reported with travel support in some cases).
- Relocation support: For new hires moving to the Madison area.
- Equity: Epic is privately held and not known for broad employee equity grants, unlike public tech companies.
| Component | Share of total pay (typical) |
|---|---|
| Base salary | 85–95% |
| Bonus | 5–15% |
| Retirement contributions | Additional |
| Equity | Generally none |
Epic Systems Product Manager Salaries by Level
Epic doesn't publish formal level ladders. Progression happens through raises and growing responsibility within each role. The tables below use experience bands.
| Experience | Software Developer (total) | Quality Manager (total) | Project Manager (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New grad (0–1 years) | $125,000–150,000 | $85,000–100,000 | $72,000–90,000 |
| 2–4 years | $140,000–175,000 | $95,000–120,000 | $85,000–110,000 |
| 5–8 years (team lead) | $165,000–210,000 | $110,000–140,000 | $100,000–130,000 |
| 8+ years (senior lead) | $190,000–250,000+ | $130,000–165,000 | $120,000–160,000 |
Software Developer (New Grad)
Developers start with the highest pay among new-grad roles. They own design and code for features in applications like MyChart, Hyperspace or Cosmos. Because developers write the design for what they build, this is the closest Epic role to a product manager, and many candidates targeting PM careers choose it for that reason. Developers working on fast-growing areas, such as AI features (Art, Emmie, Penny) or Agent Factory, gain experience that is in high demand across health tech.
Quality Manager
QMs start lower than developers but gain deep workflow expertise. Strong QMs often move into team lead roles or product-adjacent careers.
Project Manager
Project managers start with lower base pay but gain customer-facing experience and travel. Pay rises with responsibility for larger implementations.
Team Lead
Team leads guide groups of developers, QMs or project managers. Pay rises significantly at this stage. Leads also take on hiring, mentoring new graduates and setting priorities for their area, which is where product judgement becomes a central part of the job and where total pay begins to separate strongly from individual contributors.
Senior Leadership
Senior leads and application directors oversee product areas and strategy. Pay data is sparse for these roles.
How Location Affects Epic Systems PM Salaries
Almost all Epic roles are based in Verona, Wisconsin. Epic uses one pay structure for its campus, so location differences matter mainly when comparing offers from other companies.
| Comparison | Epic (Verona) | Big tech (Bay Area) | Health tech startup (remote) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New grad developer base | $120–140K | $140–180K + equity | $100–140K + options |
| Cost of living | Moderate | Very high | Varies |
| Equity | Generally none | Significant | Options with risk |
Adjusted for cost of living, Epic's developer pay is competitive with many big tech offers, though total compensation at top tech firms is higher because of equity.
Career Progression and Salary Growth
| Stage | Typical time | Pay growth |
|---|---|---|
| New hire to experienced individual contributor | 2–3 years | 10–25% |
| Individual contributor to team lead | 3–5 years | 15–30% |
| Team lead to senior lead | 5+ years | 15–30% |
Many Epic employees also move between roles, for example from quality manager to software developer or from project manager to a customer-facing leadership role. Such moves can change pay significantly:
| Move | Typical pay effect | Why people make it |
|---|---|---|
| QM to Software Developer | Increase | More design ownership, higher pay band |
| Project Manager to Team Lead | Increase | Leadership of implementation teams |
| Developer to Team Lead | Increase | Direction-setting for an application area |
| Epic to health tech startup | Varies; equity added | Formal PM title, faster scope growth |
| Epic to health system IT | Often similar base | Stay in Madison or move closer to family |
Epic experience is valued by health systems and consultancies, because Epic-certified analysts and project managers are in demand wherever Epic is installed. This gives Epic alumni a strong outside market, which supports long-term earnings even for roles with lower starting pay.
Ways to grow faster:
- Own visible features, especially AI features like Art and Emmie.
- Build strong customer relationships.
- Take on cross-team projects such as Cosmos or Agent Factory work.
Negotiating Your Epic Systems PM Offer
Epic is known for structured, fairly standard new-grad offers, so room to negotiate is limited. Tips:
- Understand the full package: Base, bonus, relocation, retirement, sabbatical.
- Ask about raises: Ask how annual raises and bonuses typically work.
- Clarify start dates and relocation support.
- Compare cost of living: Present competing offers honestly, adjusted for location.
- Consider role fit: A developer role pays more than QM or project manager roles, but choose based on interests and strengths.
If you have a competing offer, share it politely and ask whether there is flexibility on base or signing support. Even if base is fixed, relocation or start date flexibility may be possible.
Conclusion
Epic offers competitive, mainly cash-based pay for product-adjacent roles, with software developers earning the most and quality managers and project managers starting lower but gaining valuable healthcare and customer experience. Combined with Madison's moderate cost of living and benefits like sabbaticals, Epic is a strong option for students who want product-related work in healthcare.
FAQs
What is the starting salary for a software developer at Epic Systems?
Estimates put 2026 new-grad developer base salaries around $120,000–140,000, with bonuses on top. Exact offers vary by degree and year.
How much do Epic quality managers and project managers earn?
Quality managers typically start around $80,000–95,000 and project managers around $70,000–85,000 in base pay, with increases as they gain experience and responsibility.
Does Epic offer stock or equity?
Epic is privately held and generally doesn't offer equity to employees. Compensation is mainly base salary, bonus, retirement contributions and benefits.
Is Epic's pay competitive with big tech?
Base pay for developers is competitive, especially after adjusting for Madison's cost of living. Big tech total compensation is usually higher because of stock grants.
Related Guides Section
📖 Epic Systems Product Manager Interview Guide – Roles, skills assessment and interview process.
📖 Epic Systems Product Strategy Guide – AI agents, Cosmos and growth strategy.
📖 Epic Systems Product Teardown Guide – MyChart analysed.
Disclaimer: Salary figures are estimates based on public data sources and candidate reports. Actual compensation varies by role, experience and year.
