Registered Nurse Salary in Wisconsin Rapids, WI: $86,118 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Wisconsin Rapids, WI earns a median $86,118/year (≈ $41.41/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Wisconsin Rapids's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.4), that paycheck buys what $92,203 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.3% below the Wisconsin state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Wisconsin Rapids, registered nurse salaries reflect both local market dynamics and the influence of shift differentials. The projected median annual salary for 2026 stands at $86,118, with a salary range that spans from $65,138 at the 10th percentile to $112,258 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional price variations, indicate that compensation can be significantly affected by hours worked. Registered nurses who work nights or weekends often receive additional shift differentials, which can greatly enhance their overall earnings in this particular job market.
About the Wisconsin Rapids Market
Salary estimated from Wisconsin average ($83,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,138 | $31.32 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,821 | $34.05 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,118 | $41.41 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,405 | $45.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $112,258 | $53.97 |
Median Salary Position
16.17% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wisconsin Rapids
In Wisconsin Rapids, WI, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,120 (2026 est.). At $86,118, the local median is 16.17% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wisconsin Rapids: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wisconsin Rapids Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Wisconsin Rapids median: $86,118/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wisconsin Rapids Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $93,913 | -8.30% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -16.17% less |
Registered Nurses in Wisconsin Rapids, WI earn a median of $86,118 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.17% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 8.30% below the Wisconsin state average of $93,913.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wisconsin Rapids has a cost of living 6.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wisconsin Rapids, WI has a cost-of-living index of 93.4 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $86,118 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $92,203 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.07% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,447
2025 BLS Actual
$81,776
2026 Current Est.
$86,118
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Wisconsin Rapids (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,447 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,149 | Actual |
| 2021 | $65,052 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,087 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,152 | Actual |
| 2024 | $71,078 | Actual |
| 2025 | $81,776 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,118 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,691 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wisconsin Rapids metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $61,447 (2019) to $81,776 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,691 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,244 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wisconsin Rapids metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $65,138 – $70,821 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,821 – $86,118 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,118 – $95,405 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,405 – $112,258 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Wisconsin Rapids
With only five registered nurses currently employed in the Wisconsin Rapids area, job competition is relatively low, providing opportunities for those entering the field. The local cost-of-living index, at 93.4, suggests that wages stretch further in this community compared to national averages, ultimately enhancing purchasing power. Among local employers, hospital systems typically offer the highest pay, particularly for roles in acute care and critical care settings. The variance in nurse salaries is driven by factors such as specialty certification, experience, and varying pay rates for shifts, with night shifts often attracting premiums of $3-7 per hour and weekends $3-5 per hour. To maximize registered nurse pay in Wisconsin Rapids, targeting positions in these high-demand settings and pursuing specialty certifications could yield substantial rewards.
More salary data for Wisconsin Rapids, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $81,776 for registered nursesin the Wisconsin Rapids metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Wisconsin Rapids is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov