Registered Nurses Salary in Milwaukee, WI

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Median annual salary $83,990 -10.3% vs national
Median hourly $40.38
10th percentile $73,170
90th percentile $107,600
Employed locally 21,950
National median $93,600

Compare Registered Nurses salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Milwaukee, WI stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Registered Nurses
in
Milwaukee, WI
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $73,170
    25th
    $79,760
    50th (median)
    $83,990
    75th
    $101,420
    90th
    $107,600

    Milwaukee economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,404 2023 • Census ACS
    Registered Nurses salary vs area income 110% Median Registered Nurses salary is 10% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Registered Nurses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $208,940
    Vallejo, CA $192,470
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $188,020
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $178,900
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $172,390
    Modesto, CA $169,460

    Nearby metros — Registered Nurses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $102,240
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $100,840
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $100,540
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $99,210
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $97,220
    La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $95,800

    Related occupations in Milwaukee, WI

    OccupationMedian salary
    Pharmacy Technicians$46,100
    Physicians, All Other$218,460
    Nurse Practitioners$129,760
    Dental Hygienists$82,540
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,320
    Psychiatric Technicians$37,170

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Registered Nurses make per hour in Milwaukee?

    The median hourly wage for Registered Nurses in Milwaukee, WI is $40.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $57.45 or more per hour.

    Is Milwaukee above or below average for Registered Nurses salaries?

    The median Registered Nurses salary in Milwaukee, WI is 10.3% below the national median of $93,600. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Registered Nurses in Milwaukee?

    Entry-level Registered Nurses (10th percentile) earn around $73,170 per year in Milwaukee, WI. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $79,760.