Salaries for any type of career are influenced by a variety of factors. It is no different with a nurse practitioner salary. Whether you’re a nurse practitioner or just starting your nursing education, you may wonder what nurse practitioners earn.
As a nurse practitioner, one of the most important aspects that can affect your salary is the location in which you practice.
There are a number of options that can be examined when considering a location. In the United States, for instance, there are a wide variety of states to choose from.
It is also important to note that each state has a diverse range of cities as well. In addition to that, all cities can be broken down into suburbs, metropolitan areas, and rural communities.
It is important to remember that salaries in the United States vary widely by state. There are differences in salaries between cities within each state as you look at the salaries. Considering the type of city and cost of living when comparing nurse practitioner salaries is important.
This article analyzes the salaries of nurse practitioners in Wisconsin. In addition, nurse practitioner salary ranges in Wisconsin will be compared with those in other states.
Furthermore, we will compare nurse practitioners’ salaries with those of other professions in this state.
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – Starting Out
The new generation of nurse practitioners are eager to take on their new role as respected healthcare providers. They may be curious about the salary they can expect to earn when they first start out. New nurse practitioners in Wisconsin can expect to earn a good salary when they are ready to enter the field.
It is typical for entry-level workers to just have graduated from college and have less than two or three years of experience. Starting salaries for nurse practitioners are influenced by a number of factors, such as where they live and the type of specialty they practice.
In Wisconsin, an entry-level nurse practitioner makes around $80,803 per year, which equates to $6,734 per month and $38.85 per hour. Salaries like these are highly competitive and attractive for students who have just graduated from an educational program.
A new nurse practitioner can also find these numbers appealing when they realize this is only their starting pay, and they will earn much more with experience.
| Hourly | $38.85 |
| Monthly | $6,734 |
| Annual | $80,803 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – Average
As with any other career or job, a nurse practitioner’s salary is influenced by a number of circumstances, just like those of any other profession.
It is important to consider several factors, such as the type of job, location, years of experience, shift differentials, and degree or certification requirements, when looking at the salary amount.
It is estimated that Wisconsin nurse practitioners earn an average of $118,248 per year. This equates to $9,649 per month and $55.66 per hour.
| Hourly | $56.85 |
| Monthly | $9,854 |
| Annual | $118,248 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – Years of Experience
It goes without saying that an individual will have a higher income potential the more experience they have in their careers. The same is true for nurse practitioners.
The salary of nurse practitioners with more experience will be higher. A nurse practitioner’s salary greatly depends on how many years they have worked.
Nursing practitioners develop the skills and judgment they need to make competent clinical decisions throughout their careers. Years of hands-on experience and on-the-job training cannot be learned by anyone, but that is something that must be gained through experience.
As a result, nurse practitioners with more experience become more valuable to the health care system, which reflects in their salary. When analyzing nurse practitioner salaries, it is important to consider years of experience.
In Wisconsin, the average entry-level nurse practitioner salary is $80,803 per year or $38.85 per hour. After three to five years of practice, nurse practitioners can earn an average salary of $94,332 or $45.35 an hour.
With 20 years of experience, a Wisconsin nurse practitioner earns an average annual salary of $143,938, or $65.00 an hour.
| Years of Experience | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
| Starting (Entry-Level) | $38.85 | $8,740 | $80,803 |
| 3-5 Years of Experience | $45.35 | $7,861 | $94,332 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $69.20 | $11,995 | $143.938 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – By Practice Setting
Other factors influence nurse practitioners’ salaries, in addition to the ones previously discussed. The first factor is the type of setting in which the nurse practitioner practices.
Depending on the environment in which nurse practitioners practice, a nurse practitioner may earn more or less than their counterparts.
As a nurse practitioner in Wisconsin, you will have the opportunity to work in a wide variety of practice settings that can be suited to your preferences.
The type of practice setting that an individual chooses will depend on their interests and the type of work they prefer to do, as well as their professional goals.
A clinic or office setting may appeal to some people, while a hospital or more fast-paced environment may appeal to others. In the table below, you will see that there are several different kinds of practice settings, each with a different salary range.
| Type of Practice Setting | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
| Hospitals | $58.08 | $10,067 | $120,800 |
| Outpatient Facilities | $60.99 | $10,572 | $126,860 |
| Doctor’s Offices | $53.86 | $9,335 | $112,020 |
| Other Healthcare Provider Offices | $51.21 | $8,877 | $106,520 |
| Colleges and Universities | $52.24 | $9,054 | $108,650 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – By Speciality
Nurse practitioners’ salaries are also significantly affected by their specialization. There are many specializations available to Wisconsin nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners usually choose their specialty based on what interests them and what their personal goals are.
The fields of pediatrics, psychiatry, family medicine, emergency medicine, and women’s health are among those nurse practitioners specialize in.
After completing a nurse practitioner program, a nurse practitioner might need to earn specific certifications. Depending on the specialty, certification requirements differ. Working in the same specialty for a long time can become monotonous for some people.
In addition to working in one specialty for a while, nurse practitioners have the option of switching to another specialty. As nurse practitioners, it is not uncommon to specialize in more than one field during their careers.
Below is an overview of some of the nurse practitioner specialties, as well as an average salary for each specialty in Wisconsin.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
- Provides assessment, diagnosis, and general care of patients with a range of ages from early adulthood to the golden years
- Care settings, such as acute care and primary care
- A variety of settings such as long-term care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, private practices, hospice care facilities, and specialty clinics
- Average salary of an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner is $114,600 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $55.10 |
| Annual | $114,600 |
Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
- The purpose of this practice is to provide medical treatment for conditions and diseases affecting the skin
- Provides flexibility in work schedules in order to maintain a work-family balance
- Care settings such as dermatology clinics, plastic surgery offices, medical spas, and research institutes
- Average salary of a dermatology nurse practitioner is $116,554 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $56.04 |
| Annual | $116,554 |
Emergency Nurse Practitioner
- Provides general care to patients in an emergency situation by diagnosing, treating, and managing their conditions
- Care settings such as emergency departments of a hospital or urgent care center
- Maintains compliance with the nursing standards in the emergency setting in relation to the administration of prescribed medications and treatments
- Average salary of an emergency nurse practitioner is $76,535 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $36.80 |
| Annual | $76,535 |
Family Nurse Practitioner
- Provide assessment, diagnosis, and other services related to managing patient care for a variety of patients, ranging from newborns to the elderly
- Assists families with a wide range of health-related issues from disease prevention to managing chronic diseases in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle
- A wide variety of care settings, including physician offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice centers, acute care centers, private care with patient’s home, urgent cares, correctional facilities, and private practice
- Average salary of a family nurse practitioner is $118,248 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $55.66 |
| Annual | $118,248 |
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal management services are provided under the guidance of a neonatologist
- Performing assessments, diagnosing, and managing critical, high-risk, or chronic infants under the direction of a neonatologist
- Working in a hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Provides daily rounds to infants in their care, conducts infant assessments, and develops individual patient care plans
- Average salary of a neonatal nurse practitioner is $106,291 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $51.10 |
| Annual | $106,291 |
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Provides treatment and medication administration in pediatric units within hospitals and clinics based on nursing standards
- Manages all pediatric patient needs related to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment
- Performs assessments and documentation of pediatric patients’ conditions and treatment responses
- Determines compliance with treatment and care by consulting and working closely with pediatric parents
- Average salary of a pediatric nurse practitioner is $105,807 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $50.87 |
| Annual | $105,807 |
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Monitors patient progress in response to treatment, records results, and monitors results of treatment
- Performs assessments, diagnoses, and provides treatment for patients with mental illness and disorders
- Provides psychotherapy and medication prescriptions as needed
- Average salary of a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is $108,409 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $52.12 |
| Annual | $108,409 |
Trauma Nurse Practitioner
- Assesses patients rapidly and triages them accordingly
- Manages emergent patients by assessing, diagnosing, and treating them
- Care settings include a trauma or emergency center in a hospital
- Ensures life-saving treatment is provided to patients with critical injuries
- Provides first aid to patients, treats wounds, and administers CPR as necessary
- Average salary of a trauma nurse practitioner is $106,428 per year in Wisconsin
| Hourly | $51.17 |
| Annual | $106,428 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – By City
There is a great deal of variation among nurse practitioner salaries based on their location throughout the country. Salaries can differ dramatically from one state to another.
It is important to take a nurse practitioner’s location into consideration when comparing Wisconsin nurse practitioner salaries.
Keeping the type of location in mind is important when comparing salaries. There are many types of settings, including cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural settings. In addition, location pay differs according to need.
Nurse practitioners are paid and given more benefits more competitively in areas with greater demand. When comparing salaries across cities and states, these factors should be taken into consideration.
The following are some of the main cities in Wisconsin, along with their salaries.
Green Bay
- Population: 107,395 in 2020
- Third-largest city in the state of Wisconsin
- Home to Bellin Hospital, HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center
- Average salary of $116,782 per year
| Hourly | $56.15 |
| Annual | $116,782 |
Kenosha
- Population: 99,986 in 2020
- Fourth-largest city in the state of Wisconsin
- Home to Froedtert Kenosha Medical Center, Aurora Medical Center Kenosha, and Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital
- Average salary of $126,489 per year
| Hourly | $60.81 |
| Annual | $126,489 |
Racine
- Population: 77,816 in 2020
- Located 22 miles south of Milwaukee on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River
- Home to Ascension All Saints – Wisconsin Avenue, Ascension All Saints Hospital, and Wheaton Fransiscan Healthcare
- Average salary of $122,571 per year
| Hourly | $58.93 |
| Annual | $122,571 |
Madison
- Population: 269,840 in 2020
- State capital and the second-largest city in the state of Wisconsin
- Home to UW Health University Hospital, UW Health East Madison Hospital, and UnityPoint Health – Meriter Hospital
- Average salary of $118,248 per year
| Hourly | $56.85 |
| Annual | $118,248 |
Milwaukee
- Population: 577,222 in 2020
- Most-populous city in the state of Wisconsin
- Home to Froedtert Hospital, Ascension SE WIsconsin Hospital – St. Joseph Campus, Ascension St. Francis Hospital, and Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee
- Average salary of $123,271 per year
| Hourly | $59.26 |
| Annual | $123,271 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – Comparison to Other Nursing Careers
For Wisconsin registered nurses, obtaining a nurse practitioner education can be a great investment. The average salary of a nurse practitioner in Wisconsin is almost $37,000 more than that of a registered nurse.
It should be noted that nursing professionals are able to earn a variety of salaries. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) earns an average annual salary of $32,396, which is towards the lower end of the salary scale as compared to other occupations.
One of the most highly-paid nursing professionals is the nurse anesthetist.
In Wisconsin, nurse anesthetists make $172,239 per year on average, which is more than $56,000 higher than nurse practitioners who make $118,248. Considering the time and financial commitment it takes to complete their education, it is clear that the effort they put into it is well rewarded.
| Occupation | Average Yearly Salary |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $172,239 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $118,248 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) | $105,599 |
| Nursing School Professor | $79,368 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $78,888 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | $47,227 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $32,396 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – Comparison to Other Healthcare Careers
The average salary difference between nurse practitioners and physician assistants in Wisconsin is less than $7,000. Audiologists in Wisconsin make an average annual salary of $78,749, which is on the lower end of the salary range.
Podiatrists make on average $208,454 per year on the other end of the salary spectrum.
The average salary of a nurse practitioner in Wisconsin is $118,248 per year, which is just above the middle of salaries among other healthcare professionals.
| Occupation | Average Yearly Salary |
| Podiatrist | $208,454 |
| Dentist | $185,672 |
| Optometrist | $134,383 |
| Pharmacist | $131,632 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $118,248 |
| Physician’s Assistant (PA) | $109,267 |
| Chiropractor | $98,195 |
| Veterinarian | $94,389 |
| Physical Therapist (PT) | $88,708 |
| Occupational Therapist (OT) | $82,002 |
| Speech Therapist | $79,303 |
| Audiologist | $78,749 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Salary – Comparison Nationwide
In Wisconsin, the average salary for a nurse practitioner is $118,248 annually. In the United States, nurse practitioners earn an average salary of $120,190. Therefore, Wisconsin nurse practitioners earn an average of about $4,407 less per year (about 4%) than their colleagues across the country.
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioners – Top Five Paid
Among all nurse practitioners in Wisconsin, dermatology nurse practitioners earn the highest average salary. Nurse practitioners who specialize in dermatology earn an average salary of $116,554 per year in Wisconsin.
In the top five list, pediatric nurses round out the list at $105,807 per year, still a very nice salary.
| Rank | Nurse Practitioner Specialty | Yearly |
| 1 | Dermatology Nurse Practitioner | $116,554 |
| 2 | Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) | $118,248 |
| 3 | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) | $108,409 |
| 4 | Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) | $106,291 |
| 5 | Pediatric Nurse Practitioner | $105,807 |
Wisconsin Nurse Practitioner Future
Wisconsin has a very promising job outlook for nurse practitioners. Over the next five years, Wisconsin’s nurse practitioners could earn an additional 11% in salary. By 2027, Wisconsin’s nurse practitioners are estimated to earn $129,097 annually.
How To Become a Nurse Practitioner
These salary figures may be helpful if you are considering becoming a nurse practitioner but do not yet hold a license. In order to become a nurse practitioner, you must have completed an advanced degree program and be a registered nurse.
It is necessary for the applicant to have two or three years of nursing experience in the specialty in which they wish to pursue an advanced degree (master’s or doctoral). When you become a registered nurse and work in your desired specialty, the next step is to obtain an advanced degree in nursing.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the length of time it takes to become a nurse practitioner in Wisconsin.
To become a nurse practitioner, the length of time it takes will depend on your program of study, as well as whether you are enrolled full-time or part-time. Academic courses, internships, and clinical experiences are all covered by this commitment.
It is necessary to be a registered nurse before becoming a nurse practitioner, as briefly mentioned above. Registered nurses must obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) before obtaining their license.
To become a nurse practitioner, you must complete a graduate degree in nursing, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which prepares you to sit for the specialty licensing examination.
Depending on whether a student chooses a traditional or accelerated program, a nurse practitioner program’s completion time may also vary. Another important factor to consider before becoming a registered nurse is how one obtains their license.
It usually takes six to seven years to complete the education required to become a nurse practitioner. Obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) requires approximately four years of undergraduate study.
In order to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), two additional years are required. With an accelerated program, you can complete the program more quickly. Alternatively, studying part-time rather than full-time or attending a traditional program rather than an accelerated program can slow down the process.
Conclusion
There are many options to consider when examining nurse practitioner salaries, no matter where you are in your nursing education. Even within a single state, nurse practitioners need to be mindful of a variety of factors when determining their salaries across different locations.
As a nurse practitioner, you will have the opportunity to practice in a variety of settings throughout the state of Wisconsin. The benefits and compensation are excellent, and the salary is competitive with the rest of the country.
In deciding where to practice as a nurse practitioner, Wisconsin may be worth considering.
Written by Joanne Potter
Joanne, BSN and RN, is a writer that specializes in health and wellness. She has fifteen years of experience as a Registered Nurse in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Her years working at the bedside and extensive neonatal knowledge enable her to write with a deep understanding of what patients and families want from their communities. Visit her LinkedIn page.
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