Registered Nurse salary in Wisconsin
Registered Nurses in Wisconsin earn a median of $41.38 per hour, about $86,070 a year, 8% below the U.S. median of $45.00. The middle half earn between $38.25 and $48.40 per hour. The highest median among Wisconsin metro areas is in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN, at $46.06 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $41.38median pay per hour
- $86,070median pay per year
- 64,960registered nurses employed in Wisconsin
- #25of 50 states by median pay
Registered Nurse pay in Wisconsin: percentiles
| Level | Wisconsin per hour | Wisconsin per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $36.04 | $74,960 | $31.75 |
| Lower quartile | $38.25 | $79,560 | $37.79 |
| Median | $41.38 | $86,070 | $45.00 |
| Upper quartile | $48.40 | $100,670 | $51.90 |
| Top 10% | $52.53 | $109,260 | $65.06 |
Registered Nurse pay by metro area in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs Wisconsin median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $46.06 | $95,800 | 2,780 | 11% above | $50.19 |
| Madison, WI | $43.26 | $89,980 | 9,990 | 5% above | $44.47 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $40.68 | $84,610 | 1,450 | 2% below | $43.41 |
| Kenosha, WI | $40.63 | $84,500 | 1,560 | 2% below | $40.18 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $40.38 | $83,990 | 21,950 | 2% below | $41.66 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $39.90 | $82,980 | 1,910 | 4% below | $42.94 |
| Appleton, WI | $39.35 | $81,850 | 2,040 | 5% below | $42.58 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $39.14 | $81,420 | 2,410 | 5% below | $42.18 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $39.12 | $81,360 | 910 | 5% below | $41.61 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $38.96 | $81,040 | 1,230 | 6% below | $40.60 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $38.64 | $80,360 | 890 | 7% below | — |
| Green Bay, WI | $38.24 | $79,550 | 4,740 | 8% below | $41.08 |
| Wausau, WI | $37.99 | $79,030 | 1,570 | 8% below | $41.00 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Registered Nurse pay in states next to Wisconsin
What employers are posting in Wisconsin
- 147roles with published pay
- $45.50median pay per hour
- $34–$56typical published range
- 6employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Mercy | 52 | $43.06 |
| Hospital Sisters Health System | 50 | $46 |
| Advocate Health | 27 | $44.38 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 13 | $52.90 |
| Select Medical | 3 | $51.43 |
| Essentia Health | 2 | $56.95 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 147 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Registered Nurse jobs in Wisconsin · Registered Nurse salary nationwide · Wisconsin state guide · Wisconsin licensing guide
Common questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Wisconsin?
The median is $41.38 per hour, about $86,070 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $36.04 and the top 10% earn over $52.53 (BLS, May 2024).
Which Wisconsin city pays registered nurses the most?
Among Wisconsin metro areas, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN has the highest median at $46.06 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does Wisconsin rank for registered nurse pay?
Wisconsin ranks 25th of 50 states by median registered nurse pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay registered nurses? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
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Your RN pay reportWisconsin · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Essentia HealthSuperior, WI · 2 postings$56.95/ hr$45–$69
- Veterans Health AdministrationMilwaukee, WI · 13 postings$52.90/ hr$34–$74
- Select MedicalMadison, WI · 3 postings$51.43/ hr$34–$60
- 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
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.