A recent
study by business.org ranks Wisconsin 12
th nationally for nursing salaries compared to average salaries in each state. According to the study, nurses in Wisconsin earn an average salary 48.6% higher than the state’s average wage.
Wages relative to cost of living for an area are an important consideration for this vital segment of the workforce in choosing the best state in which to practice. In this regard, nurses in Wisconsin also fair well compared to the rest of the nation, with the state ranking third (tied with Ohio) for how nurse wages compare to living expenses. Only West Virginia and New Mexico ranked higher than Wisconsin on this measure.
More than 2.9 million nurses work in the U.S., earning an average salary of $77,460 annually, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That salary is 45% more than the average salary for all other occupations across the country, with Wisconsin’s 48.6% spread showing that nursing skills are highly valued in the state. Earnings are one important way health care employers can recognize, recruit and retain nurses, and this study shines a positive light on Wisconsin.
For questions about this study, or other workforce issues, contact WHA Senior Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice
Ann Zenk.