Registered Nurse salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Registered Nurses in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median of $97,360 a year ($46.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $78,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,490 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 2% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $95,530. There are 27 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,050, close to the median.
Pay range for registered nurses in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| 25th percentile | $82,570 | $39.70 |
| Median | $97,360 | $46.81 |
| 75th percentile | $105,000 | $50.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,490 | $57.45 |
| Average (mean) | $96,050 | $46.18 |
Half of registered nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,113.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,056.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,744.62 |
| Weekly | $1,872.31 |
| Hourly | $46.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $103,040 | 43,600 |
| Madison, WI | $101,190 | 10,650 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $98,370 | 2,920 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $96,940 | 4,410 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $93,890 | 960 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $93,410 | 2,420 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $93,030 | 1,680 |
| Wausau, WI | $89,190 | 1,830 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $89,090 | 1,510 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $87,340 | 2,050 |
| Appleton, WI | $86,680 | 2,310 |
| Green Bay, WI | $84,700 | 4,680 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $84,240 | 1,130 |
| Kenosha, WI | $83,110 | 1,730 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $411,200 | $197.69 |
| Pharmacist | $153,340 | $73.72 |
| Physical Therapist | $103,030 | $49.53 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $134,350 | $64.59 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,780 | $47.49 |
| Occupational Therapist | $94,020 | $45.20 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,040 | $64.92 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $88,190 | $42.40 |
| Dentists, General | $155,940 | $74.97 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $89,040 | $42.81 |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | $239,200+ | $115.00+ |
| Veterinarian | $117,780 | $56.62 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $287,350 | $138.15 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $77,660 | $37.34 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $97,360 a year, or $46.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $78,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn at least $119,490 a year. The top 25% earn $105,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $78,730 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $82,570 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI?
About 22,400 registered nurses are employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.