Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Wisconsin | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $95,530 | $98,331 | -3% |
| Median hourly wage | $45.93 | $47.27 | -3% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $101,520.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $81,767 | $61,750 | $99,750 | 96 |
The median annual salary for a Registered Nurse in Wisconsin is $95,530, or about $45.93 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Registered Nurses is $98,331. Wisconsin is -3% below the national median.
Entry-level registered nurses in Wisconsin typically earn from $61,750 depending on the city and employer.
With 68,060 registered nurse jobs on record and a median salary of $95,530, Wisconsin offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, registered nurses rank 105 of the 728 occupations reported in Wisconsin — higher than 86% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Cardiologists at $636,580, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric at $572,060, Anesthesiologists at $443,990 — all figures are median annual wages for Wisconsin.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Wisconsin levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, registered nurses rank 105 of the 728 occupations reported in Wisconsin — higher than 86% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Wisconsin | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | $636,580 | $200 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $572,060 | $290 |
| Anesthesiologists | $443,990 | $790 |
| Dermatologists | $440,710 | $160 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $416,000 | $550 |
| Radiologists | $392,610 | $980 |
Wisconsin levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 728 occupations in Wisconsin.