How Much Does an RN Make in Wisconsin in 2026?

A typical RN in Wisconsin earns about $45.93 per hour, or $95,530 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $7,961 a month and $1,837 a week. Full-time RNs typically work standard 40-hour weeks, though hospital shifts often run longer. These figures represent typical pay across the entire state, before local city differences are factored in.

Wisconsin's typical RN pay sits 2% below the national figure of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour), and the state ranks 23rd out of 51 states and D.C. for RN pay. Wisconsin employs 68,060 RNs, a workforce large enough to place local pay figures on solid footing. The gap with the national figure is modest, and likely reflects a lower cost of living in much of the state compared with higher-cost coastal markets.

Entry-level RN positions in Wisconsin typically offer around $37.24 an hour, or about $77,470 a year, for those just starting out. Some new graduates land slightly higher, closer to $81,920 a year, depending on the employer and setting. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $95,530 within the first several years on the job. Hospitals and larger health systems often offer faster early raises than smaller clinics.

Experienced RNs in Wisconsin often earn upwards of $102,610 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $119,860. That leaves a spread of $42,390 between entry-level and top pay, one of the wider gaps in the profession. Setting plays a large role: specialty units, leadership roles, and higher-paying cities tend to sit at the top of that range. Years of experience and additional certifications also help RNs move up within it.

Wisconsin RN pay has climbed from $65,150 in 2015 to $95,530 in 2025, a gain of $30,380. That amounts to a 47% rise over the decade, with steady increases most years along the way. The largest single-year jump came in the most recent year, when typical pay rose from $86,070 to $95,530.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, so Wisconsin's 47% increase kept pace with the country as a whole. For someone starting an RN career in Wisconsin now, pay has moved up steadily in recent years, though past increases do not guarantee future ones. The overall direction has been upward across the state.

RN pay runs highest in the St. Paul metro area, which extends into western Wisconsin, where typical pay reaches $103,040 a year, about 8% above the state figure. Madison follows closely at $101,190 a year, and La Crosse pays $98,370. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Kenosha pays the least among Wisconsin's metro areas at $83,110 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $19,930. Milwaukee, the state's largest city, employs 22,400 RNs, though the St. Paul metro area's Wisconsin-spanning workforce of 43,600 is larger still. Cities with higher pay generally also carry a higher cost of living, so the gap in take-home value is often smaller than the raw numbers suggest.

Wisconsin's neighbors show a mixed picture. Minnesota pays RNs more, at $101,510 a year, about 6% higher than Wisconsin. Illinois pays about the same, at $95,990. Michigan runs close behind at $94,300, roughly 1% lower, while Iowa trails well behind at just $78,630, 18% below Wisconsin's figure. RN licenses can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, so comparing figures across state lines is worth doing before relocating.

A typical RN in Wisconsin earns $95,530 a year, or $45.93 an hour, as of the latest government wage data (May 2025). That figure has climbed 47% over the past decade, up from $65,150 in 2015. Readers weighing a move or a new role can check Wisconsin's state licensing and nursing registry pages for requirements, and city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.