Registered Nurse salary in Wisconsin
Registered Nurses in Wisconsin earn a median of $95,530 a year ($45.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 68,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,860 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $97,550. Wisconsin ranks 23rd of 51 states for registered nurses pay. There are 23 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $94,690, close to the median.
Pay range for registered nurses in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,470 | $37.24 |
| 25th percentile | $81,920 | $39.39 |
| Median | $95,530 | $45.93 |
| 75th percentile | $102,610 | $49.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,860 | $57.63 |
| Average (mean) | $94,690 | $45.53 |
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 | $7,960.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,980.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,674.23 |
| Weekly | $1,837.12 |
| Hourly | $45.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in cities in Wisconsin
| 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 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $97,360 | 22,400 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $391,740 | $188.34 |
| Pharmacist | $148,740 | $71.51 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,840 | $48.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,980 | $63.45 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,540 | $46.41 |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,390 | $44.42 |
| Physician Assistant | $133,950 | $64.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,000 | $39.90 |
| Dentists, General | $193,690 | $93.12 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $84,210 | $40.48 |
| Veterinarian | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $290,640 | $139.73 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $367,160 | $176.52 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,930 | $36.03 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for registered nurses in Wisconsin is $95,530 a year, or $45.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of registered nurses in Wisconsin earn at least $119,860 a year. The top 25% earn $102,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,470 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $81,920 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Wisconsin?
About 68,060 registered nurses are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.