ICU Nurse vs Med-Surg Nurse salary in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $109,260 a year versus $97,550 for med-surg nurses, a gap of about $11,710 (roughly 12% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Wisconsin.
ICU Nurse — Wisconsin
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$109,260
At nationalHourly
$52.53/hr
- Typical range
- $89,970–$125,830
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $153,970
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $77,210
- Newer nurses
Med-Surg Nurse — Wisconsin
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$97,550
At nationalHourly
$46.90/hr
- Typical range
- $80,330–$112,350
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $137,470
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $68,940
- Newer nurses
Why the gap in Wisconsin
ICU nurses are modeled to earn slightly more than med-surg nurses, though both roles are built on the same RN license and wage base. The edge reflects the ICU's higher patient acuity, lower nurse-to-patient ratios, and critical-care certifications such as the CCRN. The Wisconsin figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Wisconsin's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national ICU Nurse vs Med-Surg Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.
ICU Nurse vs Med-Surg Nurse in Wisconsin — FAQ
- Do icu nurses or med-surg nurses earn more in Wisconsin?
- In Wisconsin, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $109,260 a year versus $97,550 for med-surg nurses, a gap of about $11,710 (roughly 12% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Wisconsin's local pay level.
- How much is the icu nurse vs med-surg nurse pay gap in Wisconsin?
- The estimated gap in Wisconsin is about $11,710 a year, or roughly 12% more for icu nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
- Are these Wisconsin figures exact?
- No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Wisconsin wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Wisconsin's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)
Wisconsin figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.00×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figures for Wisconsin. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.