WI · Madison · Updated October 15, 2026

Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Madison, WI

The median nurse manager & leadership pay in the Madison area is $66.31 per hour ($137,930 a year), with the typical range running from $54.53 to $84.16. That ranks 17th of 377 U.S. metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay, and 12th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Madison. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Madison.

More open Nurse Manager & Leadership roles in Madison

1 more open role from employers in Madison. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in Madison, WI

The metro median is 9% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $60.66 per hour. Nationally the median is $56.71 per hour. BLS counts about 1,220 medical and health services managers employed in the Madison metro area, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.82).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$48.41$100,69015% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$54.53$113,4204% below U.S. median
Median$66.31$137,93017% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$84.16$175,05048% above U.S. median
Top 10%$115+$239,200+103% above U.S. median

How Madison ranks

  • 17th of 377 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 12th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 12 Wisconsin metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for nurse manager & leadership. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Medical and Health Services Managers.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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What your pay buys in Madison

  • Overall prices in Madison run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $66.31 median hour buys what $68.16 buys at the national price level, 20% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Madison paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,387
  • Per year: $119,358
  • Per month: $9,946

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Madison metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Madison

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$124
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,428
13-week assignment$18,564

Travel nurse manager & leadership assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Nurse Manager & Leadership roles in Wisconsin

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Madison as they open.

All Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Wisconsin

Hospitals in Madison

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, 4 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse manager & leaderships.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Madison Va Medical Center
Madison, WI
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Unitypoint Health - Meriter
Madison, WI
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
University Of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority
Madison, WI
Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Madison
Madison, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Mendota Mental Health Institute
Madison, WI
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Dane County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Dane County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Janesville, WI35 mi$57.84/hr66,428
Waukesha, WI60 mi$62.11/hr71,461
Rockford, IL60 mi$52.78/hr147,486
West Allis, WI71 mi$62.11/hr59,784
Milwaukee, WI74 mi$62.11/hr563,531
Dubuque, IA76 mi$47.56/hr58,987

Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Wisconsin · Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Wisconsin license by endorsement.

Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Wisconsin state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Madison

Madison city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do nurse manager & leaderships make in Madison, WI?

Nurse Manager & Leaderships in the Madison metro area have a median pay of $66.31 per hour, about $137,930 a year. The middle half earn between $54.53 and $84.16 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Madison a good place for nurse manager & leaderships once cost of living is counted?

Madison ranks 12th of 333 metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay after adjusting for local prices, and 17th of 377 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Where do nurse manager & leaderships work in Madison?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Madison, led by Madison Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Madison as a nurse manager & leadership?

Wisconsin is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Wisconsin license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Madison in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Dane County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Madison?

The federal per diem benchmark in Madison is $124 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,428 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place nurse manager & leaderships in Madison?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Madison and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Madison.

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What do employers near Madison pay nurse manager & leaderships? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Nurse Leader near Madison, WI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Nurse Leader pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Wisconsin list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$121.16/ hr$90–$148
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 6 postings$93.11/ hr$78–$157
  • Veterans Health AdministrationLong Beach, CA · 3 postings$80.49/ hr$48–$110
  • CommonSpirit HealthSAN BERNARDINO, CA · 7 postings$79.32/ hr$54–$135

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Wisconsin list

2What they are offering now

Low$41Median$60.00High$94

372 Nurse Leader postings with published pay in the US, 329 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 Nurse Leader roles

  1. Nurse Supervisor - Cardiac Device ClinicPermanent
    $91k–$136k/ year
    Mayo Clinic · Eau Claire, WI · posted 6 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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