PermanentPosted today
Float Pool RN (Night Shift)
Veterans Health Administration · Madison, WI
$86k–$149k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Registered Nurse jobs in Madison, WI
Pay for registered nurses in the Madison area centers on $43.26 per hour, or about $89,980 a year. The lower quarter earns under $40.68 and the upper quarter over $52.53. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Madison. That ranks 108th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 115th of 335 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Madison.
- $43.26median pay per hour, Madison
- $41–$53typical range per hour
- 9,990registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 5open roles with published pay
Open Registered Nurse roles in Madison
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health
Veterans Health Administration · Madison, WI
$72k–$152k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
240+ more Registered Nurse roles for you in Madison, WI
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Clinical Liaison (RN or RRT)
Select Medical · Madison, WI
$70k–$95k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Registered Nurse (RN) - Full-time Nights-Inpatient Rehab
Select Medical · Madison, WI
$42.36–$60.50/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Registered Nurse (RN) - Full-time Nights
Select Medical · Madison, WI
$42.36–$60.50/ hour
Top 25% pay
More open Registered Nurse roles in Madison
89 more open roles from employers in Madison. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse - Surgery
SSM Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse - Medical Surgical
SSM Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse - Progressive Care Unit
SSM Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse - Stepdown / Critical Care
SSM Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN - Inpatient, Pulmonary and Medical Intermediate Care (D6/5)
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN - Inpatient, Med & Surg 1st Floor
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN - Inpatient, Orthopedics
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN – Inpatient NEW Hospitalist IMC (C2/6)
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN - Inpatient, Med & Surg 3rd Floor
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN - Neurosciences ICU D4/4
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN-Pediatric Cardiac Cath Lab and Adult EP Lab
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN - Burn ICU
UW Health · Madison, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
Get the Madison Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Madison, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring registered nurses near Madison
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Select Medical | 3 | $51.43 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 2 | $55.11 |
Registered Nurse pay in Madison, WI
The metro median is 5% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $41.38 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 9,990 registered nurses employed in the Madison metro area, 24.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.16).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $38.46 | $80,000 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $40.68 | $84,610 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Median | $43.26 | $89,980 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $52.53 | $109,260 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $52.93 | $110,090 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Madison ranks
- 108th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 115th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 12 Wisconsin metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
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 $43.26 median hour buys what $44.47 buys at the national price level, 1% below 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$1,557
- Per year: $77,868
- Per month: $6,489
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
| Item | Federal 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 registered nurse 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).
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 registered nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Va Medical Center Madison, WI | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Unitypoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority Madison, WI | Acute care | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - Madison Madison, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Mendota Mental Health Institute Madison, WI | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
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.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 35 mi | $40.68/hr | 66,428 |
| Waukesha, WI | 60 mi | $40.38/hr | 71,461 |
| Rockford, IL | 60 mi | $39.21/hr | 147,486 |
| West Allis, WI | 71 mi | $40.38/hr | 59,784 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 74 mi | $40.38/hr | 563,531 |
| Dubuque, IA | 76 mi | $34.01/hr | 58,987 |
Registered Nurse jobs in Wisconsin · Registered Nurse 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.
Other healthcare roles in Madison
Madison city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Madison, WI?
Registered Nurses in the Madison metro area have a median pay of $43.26 per hour, about $89,980 a year. The middle half earn between $40.68 and $52.53 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Madison a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Madison ranks 115th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 108th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring registered nurses in Madison?
We list 5 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Madison. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Madison.
Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Madison as a registered nurse?
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 registered nurses in Madison?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Madison and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Madison.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Madison pay registered nurses? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
700+ Registered Nurse roles in Wisconsin, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportMadison, WI · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Select MedicalMadison, WI · 3 postings$51.43/ hr$34–$60
- Essentia HealthSuperior, WI · 2 postings$56.95/ hr$45–$69
- Veterans Health AdministrationMilwaukee, WI · 13 postings$52.90/ hr$34–$74
- Hospital Sisters Health SystemGreen Bay, WI · 50 postings$46.00/ hr$31–$56
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$34Median$45.50High$56
147 RN postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 118 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 147 RN roles
- Float Pool RN (Night Shift)Permanent$86k–$149k/ year
- Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental HealthPermanent$72k–$152k/ year
+ 145 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.