Registered Nurse Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Registered Nurses in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $97,360 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,543 take-home, or $6,129 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,589
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,036
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,412
- Wisconsin income tax$3,780
- Take-home pay$73,543
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,730 | $37.85 | $61,424 | $5,119 |
| 25th percentile | $82,570 | $39.70 | $63,922 | $5,327 |
| Median (50th) | $97,360 | $46.81 | $73,543 | $6,129 |
| 75th percentile | $105,000 | $50.48 | $78,513 | $6,543 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,490 | $57.45 | $87,939 | $7,328 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $97,360 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $73,543 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,867 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Milwaukee, WI has 1.3× the national concentration of registered nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #100 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 100 | Milwaukee, WI | $97,360 | $73,543 | $75,867 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- La Crosse, WI — $98,370
- Madison, WI — $101,190
- Fond du Lac, WI — $93,890
- Eau Claire, WI — $93,410
- Janesville, WI — $93,030
- Wausau, WI — $89,190
- Oshkosh, WI — $87,340
- Appleton, WI — $86,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median registered nurse salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $97,360 a year, or about $46.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,570 and $105,000.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $97,360 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $73,543 a year ($6,129 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,780 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,867 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #100 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $155,940
- Pharmacist — $153,340
- Physician Assistant — $135,040
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,350
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,490
- Physical Therapist — $103,030
- Dental Hygienist — $98,780
- Occupational Therapist — $94,020
- Respiratory Therapist — $89,040
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $88,190