How Much Does an LPN Make in Wisconsin in 2026?

A typical LPN in Wisconsin earns about $30.65 per hour ($63,760 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that works out to roughly $5,313 a month and $1,226 a week, figures calculated from the annual number. Pay varies by setting, shift, and location within the state. Those numbers describe what a typical LPN takes home before overtime or shift differentials.

Wisconsin's typical pay sits about 1% below the national figure of $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour), a gap that tracks the state's somewhat lower cost of living in many areas. Among the 50 states and D.C., Wisconsin ranks 26th for LPN pay. The state employs 7,390 LPNs, a workforce large enough to offer steady options across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings.

Entry-level LPN positions in Wisconsin typically offer around $24.91 an hour ($51,820 a year), the starting point for those newer to the field. Pay tends to climb from there, moving toward the typical figure of $30.65 an hour within the first several years on the job. Facility type and shift often shape how quickly that happens.

Experienced LPNs in Wisconsin often earn upwards of $36.06 an hour ($75,010 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $37.73 an hour ($78,490 a year). That puts $26,670 between the newest and most experienced LPNs in the state. Setting, years on the job, and which city an LPN works in all play into where someone lands on that range.

Wisconsin LPN pay has climbed steadily over the past decade. In 2015, typical pay stood at $43,400 a year; by 2025 it had reached $63,760, a gain of $20,360. That amounts to a 47% rise over ten years.

Nationally, LPN pay rose 49% over the same decade, just ahead of Wisconsin's pace. Pay for LPNs in Wisconsin has moved up substantially over the past ten years, though these figures describe what happened and don't promise future increases. Someone starting out today is entering a field where typical pay has climbed steadily rather than stayed flat.

Pay runs highest in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area, which stretches into western Wisconsin, where LPNs typically earn $65,660 a year ($31.57 an hour), about 3% above the statewide figure. Milwaukee follows closely at $65,410 a year ($31.45 an hour), with Madison close behind at $64,550 a year. These figures reflect pay across each metro area as a whole, not just the city center.

At the other end, Wausau posts the lowest typical pay in the data set, at $60,360 a year ($29.02 an hour), a $5,300 spread from the top. The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro also carries the largest LPN workforce among these areas, with 6,300 jobs. Higher pay in that metro tends to track a higher cost of living, so it doesn't necessarily stretch further than smaller paychecks in Wausau.

Among neighboring states, Illinois pays LPNs the most, at $75,000 a year, about 18% above Wisconsin's figure. Minnesota sits almost even with Wisconsin at $63,750, while Iowa trails slightly at $62,630, about 2% lower. Michigan lands close to Wisconsin as well, at $65,460. LPN licensure often transfers or can be endorsed between neighboring states, which can widen the options for someone weighing a move.

Wisconsin LPNs typically earn $63,760 a year ($30.65 an hour), a figure that has climbed 47% since 2015. Pay ranges from around $51,820 for those starting out to over $78,490 for the most experienced, and varies by city and metro area across the state. Anyone weighing this path can check Wisconsin's nursing licensing board or registry for current requirements, and look at city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.