According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, advanced nursing jobs in Wisconsin are projected to increase at double-digit rates between 2016 and 2026:
- Nurse administrators and executives: 15.2%
- Nurse anesthetists: 11.5%
- Nurse practitioners: 26.6%
- Nursing instructors: 18.7%
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The above nursing professions are increasingly being encouraged to advance their education as the population of state grows older. According to the 2018 Wisconsin Healthcare Workforce Report by the Wisconsin Hospital Association, Wisconsin’s senior population (age 65 and older) will double by 2030, which will place an increasing demand on healthcare. The report also noted that along with an aging population comes an aging healthcare workforce and that “future retirements and vacancies…must be filled to meet additional pressures on the health care system.”
A lack of primary care physicians has also brought pressure on the healthcare system in Wisconsin, thereby leading the state to “rely on the advanced practice provider workforce.”
As a result, the report found that hospital employment of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) has more than doubled in the last decade and that APRNs “working at the top of their skill, training, and experience are a vital part of Wisconsin’s healthcare workforce.”
It comes as no surprise that there is a growing trend toward the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)—the highest level of clinical nursing education available, both in Wisconsin and throughout the U.S.
In addition to satisfying a need in the healthcare sector, the DNP also offer an assurance of high salaries for the nursing professionals who possess it. An Advance Healthcare Network national survey of nurse practitioners in 2018 found that, on average, DNP-educated nurse practitioners earned 7% more than their MSN-prepared peers, or about $7,700 more annually.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Wisconsin
DNP-educated nurses are consistently recognized for their top salaries, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (2018):
- Nurse Administrators: $122,790-$154,840
- Nursing Educators: $98,300-$130,570
- Nurse Practitioners: $120,840-$130,030
- Nurse Midwives: $124,400-$134,150
Salaries for DNP Nurses in Wisconsin’s Major Cities
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the major cities of the state (2018):
Nurse Administrators:
- Appleton: $122,150-$143,700
- Eau Claire: $112,670-$135,900
- Green Bay: $116,340-$139,290
- La Crosse: $107,980-$130,280
- Madison: $130,080-$161,820
- Milwaukee: $126,990-$161,490
Nursing Instructors:
- Madison: $109,950-$127,840
- Milwaukee: $100,540-$169,460
Nurse Practitioners:
- Appleton: $116,050-$128,860
- Eau Claire: $122,110-$133,590
- Green Bay: $119,760-$133,790
- La Crosse: $121,050-$132,210
- Madison: $117,660-$127,930
- Milwaukee: $120,360-$129,030
Nurse-Midwives:
- Milwaukee: $126,820-$139,470
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Wisconsin’s DNP-Educated Nurses
According to a 2019 Medscape Compensation Report, more than three quarters (78%) of all APRNs are paid overtime, which reveals that these nursing professionals earn an hourly wage. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development provides hourly wages for DNP-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse-Midwives: $59.81-$64.50
- Nurse Practitioners: $58.10-$62.51
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $59.03-$74.44
Salary and employment data compiled by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development in May of 2018 – (https://jobcenterofwisconsin.com/wisconomy/pub/projections). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.