Registered Nurse Salary in Wausau, WI: $93,926 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Wausau, WI earns a median $93,926/year (≈ $45.16/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Wausau's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.7), that paycheck buys what $101,376 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Wausau, Wisconsin, the registered nurse salary landscape reflects a competitive market, with a projected median annual salary of $93,926 for 2026. This amount highlights a slight decrease compared to the national median of $102,730, placing local registered nurse pay at approximately 8.57% lower than the national average. The salary range is significant, spanning from $81,489 at the 10th percentile to $121,328 at the 90th percentile. These figures, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, indicate that registered nurses in Wausau can potentially boost their earnings through specialty certifications, which often command a premium over base pay. As local healthcare facilities seek to attract skilled professionals, a combination of qualifications and experience can greatly impact compensation.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,489 | $39.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $84,080 | $40.43 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $93,926 | $45.16 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $100,992 | $48.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $121,328 | $58.33 |
Median Salary Position
8.57% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wausau
In Wausau, WI, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $39,839 (2026 est.). At $93,926, the local median is 8.57% below the national median of $102,730.
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At 40 hours/week in Wausau: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wausau Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Wausau median: $93,926/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wausau Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $102,730 | -8.57% less |
Registered Nurses in Wausau, WI earn a median of $93,926 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.57% lower than the national median of $102,730.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wausau has a cost of living 7.35% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wausau, WI has a cost-of-living index of 92.651 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $93,926 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $101,376 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$66,660
2025 BLS Actual
$89,190
2026 Current Est.
$93,926
2019–2027 Growth
+48.4%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Wausau (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $66,660 | Actual |
| 2020 | $68,360 | Actual |
| 2021 | $74,410 | Actual |
| 2022 | $75,360 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,380 | Actual |
| 2024 | $79,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $89,190 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $93,926 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $98,913 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wausau metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.8% from $66,660 (2019) to $89,190 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $98,913 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,253 (48.38%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wausau 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) | $81,489 – $84,080 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $84,080 – $93,926 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $93,926 – $100,992 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $100,992 – $121,328 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Wausau
The job market for registered nurses in Wausau is robust, with 1,830 professionals employed in the area. The local cost of living index at 92.651 indicates a slightly below-average expense, which can enhance the purchasing power of nurses in the region. Among various employers, hospital systems, particularly those offering acute care, ICU, and emergency department positions, tend to provide the highest salaries. Pay disparities are influenced by factors such as shift differentials—typically an additional $3 to $7 per hour for night shifts and $3 to $5 for weekends—as well as incentives for specialty certifications and various roles, like charge nurse positions. To maximize compensation in Wausau, registered nurses should consider pursuing advanced certifications, exploring travel nursing opportunities, and seeking positions in facilities with magnet status that favor BSN-prepared candidates.
More salary data for Wausau, 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 $89,190 for registered nursesin the Wausau 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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