Registered Nurse Salary in Wausau, WI
Registered Nurses in the Wausau, WI metro area earn a median $89,190 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $68,229 take-home, or $5,686 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$10,792
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,530
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,293
- Wisconsin income tax$3,347
- Take-home pay$68,229
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Wausau, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,380 | $37.20 | $60,546 | $5,046 |
| 25th percentile | $79,840 | $38.38 | $62,146 | $5,179 |
| Median (50th) | $89,190 | $42.88 | $68,229 | $5,686 |
| 75th percentile | $95,900 | $46.11 | $72,593 | $6,049 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,210 | $55.39 | $85,155 | $7,096 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $89,190 buys in Wausau, WI
Prices in Wausau, WI are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $68,229 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,640 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Wausau, WI has 1.2× 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
Wausau, WI ranks #142 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 |
| 142 | Wausau, WI | $89,190 | $68,229 | $73,640 |
*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
- Milwaukee, WI — $97,360
- Janesville, WI — $93,030
- Oshkosh, WI — $87,340
- Appleton, WI — $86,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Wausau, WI?
The median registered nurse salary in the Wausau, WI metro area is $89,190 a year, or about $42.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,840 and $95,900.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Wausau, WI?
On the median $89,190 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $68,229 a year ($5,686 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,347 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Wausau, WI a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,640 would in a typical U.S. city. Wausau, WI ranks #142 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Wausau, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wausau, WI is $889 a month ($1,147 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.