SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — Madison
Madison, WI · 10 metro areas compared
At $101,190, median pay for Registered Nurses in Madison, WI tracks the national median of $97,550 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $101,190, median pay for Registered Nurses in Madison, WI tracks the national median of $97,550 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $87,270 and $103,150. The lowest tenth earn under $81,760, while the highest tenth earn more than $123,240.
The area has 10,650 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.20 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. La Crosse leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $98,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 76th of 534 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,760 | −16.2% |
| 25th | $87,270 | −10.5% |
| Median (50th) | $101,190 | +3.7% |
| 75th | $103,150 | +5.7% |
| 90th | $123,240 | +26.3% |
| Mean | $100,430 | +3.0% |
Other metro areas in Wisconsin
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Crosse | $98,370 | 2,920 | |
| 2 | Milwaukee | $97,360 | 22,400 | |
| 3 | Fond du Lac | $93,890 | 960 | |
| 4 | Eau Claire | $93,410 | 2,420 | |
| 5 | Janesville | $93,030 | 1,680 | |
| 6 | Wausau | $89,190 | 1,830 | |
| 7 | Racine | $89,090 | 1,510 | |
| 8 | Oshkosh | $87,340 | 2,050 | |
| 9 | Appleton | $86,680 | 2,310 | |
| 10 | Green Bay | $84,700 | 4,680 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Madison run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $101,190 goes as far as $107,535 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$101,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$107,535US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $101,190 a year, 3.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $81,760 to $123,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 10,650 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is La Crosse, at $98,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in Madison, WI?
The median annual wage is $101,190, or $48.65 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $97,550, so pay in Madison, WI is 3.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Madison, WI earns more than $123,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $81,760 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in La Crosse, at $98,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 10,650 jobs in this occupation in Madison, WI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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