How Much Does a CNA Make in Wisconsin in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Wisconsin, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Wisconsin earns about $21.70 per hour ($45,130 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That's about 7% above the national figure of $42,260 a year, which works out to roughly $20.32 an hour nationally.
Wisconsin ranks 19th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for CNA pay. About 28,370 people work as CNAs across the state, giving a sense of scale for how many people share in this pay range.
How much does a CNA make in Wisconsin?
CNA pay by career stage in Wisconsin
| Career stage | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,900$18.22 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,580$19.03 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,130$21.70 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,320$22.75 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,650$24.35 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Wisconsin
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Wisconsin · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical pay for a CNA in Wisconsin was $26,940 a year. By 2025, that figure had climbed to $45,130, a 68% rise over the decade, or about $18,190 more per year. The national increase over the same period was 64%, so Wisconsin's pay grew a bit faster than the country as a whole.
Pay for CNAs in Wisconsin has been moving upward steadily, though nothing guarantees that pattern continues for someone starting out now.
CNA salary by city in Wisconsin
Pay varies across Wisconsin's metro areas. The St. Paul-Bloomington metro area reports the highest local figure tied to Wisconsin, at $48,020 a year ($23.09 an hour). Milwaukee and Madison, the state's largest job markets for the role, follow at $45,690 and $45,260.
At the other end, Janesville reports the lowest metro figure, at $39,730, a gap of $8,290 from the top. These figures cover full metro areas, not just city centers, and higher pay in a metro often tracks a higher cost of living there.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Wisconsin | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Paul metro incl. Bloomington | $48,020 | $23.09 | +6% | 14,590 |
| 2 | Sheboygan | $47,050 | $22.62 | +4% | 520 |
| 3 | Kenosha | $46,220 | $22.22 | +2% | 710 |
| 4 | Racine metro incl. Mount Pleasant | $45,710 | $21.97 | +1% | 620 |
| 5 | Milwaukee metro incl. Waukesha | $45,690 | $21.97 | +1% | 7,880 |
| 6 | Madison | $45,260 | $21.76 | 0% | 3,420 |
| 7 | Appleton | $44,760 | $21.52 | -1% | 980 |
| 8 | Oshkosh metro incl. Neenah | $44,590 | $21.44 | -1% | 900 |
| 9 | Fond du Lac | $44,490 | $21.39 | -1% | 520 |
| 10 | Wausau | $43,660 | $20.99 | -3% | 710 |
| 11 | La Crosse metro incl. Onalaska | $43,510 | $20.92 | -4% | 1,250 |
| 12 | Green Bay | $43,450 | $20.89 | -4% | 1,700 |
| 13 | Eau Claire | $43,150 | $20.75 | -4% | 1,100 |
| 14 | Janesville metro incl. Beloit | $39,730 | $19.10 | -12% | 710 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin typical pay $45,130
How Wisconsin compares with nearby states
Among neighboring states, Minnesota pays CNAs a little more than Wisconsin, at $46,680 a year, about 3% higher. Iowa and Michigan both pay less, with Iowa running about 13% below Wisconsin's figure. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so it helps to know how pay compares just across the border.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | baseline |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | +3% |
| Illinois | $45,960 | +2% |
| Michigan | $39,570 | -12% |
| Iowa | $39,350 | -13% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Wisconsin a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Wisconsin earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $45,130 a year, 7% above the national figure, ranking 19th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Wisconsin, about 9.6 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country. Taken together, Wisconsin is one of the better-paying states for CNAs.
Summary
CNAs in Wisconsin typically earn $45,130 a year, up sharply from $26,940 a decade ago. For anyone considering the role, the Wisconsin state registry page covers certification requirements, and the city-level pages on this site break down local pay in Milwaukee, Madison, and other metro areas in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Wisconsin?
- CNAs in Wisconsin typically earn **$21.70 an hour**, or about **$45,130 a year**, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That's roughly 7% above the national figure for the role.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Wisconsin?
- The typical hourly pay for a CNA in Wisconsin is **$21.70**, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Hourly pay across the state ranges from about $18.22 for entry-level positions up to $24.35 for experienced CNAs.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Wisconsin?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Wisconsin typically start around **$18.22 an hour**, or about $37,900 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Pay rises with experience, and experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $24.35 an hour.
- Which city in Wisconsin pays CNAs the most?
- The St. Paul-Bloomington metro area reports the highest CNA pay tied to Wisconsin, at **$48,020** a year ($23.09 an hour). Sheboygan and Kenosha also rank near the top, while Janesville reports the lowest metro figure in the state, at $39,730.
- Is CNA pay in Wisconsin higher than the national rate?
- Yes. CNAs in Wisconsin earn about **$45,130** a year, roughly 7% above the national figure of $42,260, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Hourly pay follows the same pattern, at $21.70 in Wisconsin versus $20.32 nationally.