State comparison · 2025
Registered Nurses salary: California vs Wisconsin
Registered Nurses in California earn a median of $140,270. In Wisconsin, $95,530. After cost-of-living, the gap is 24.8% — not 46.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+46.8%
California vs Wisconsin
COL-adjusted gap
+24.8%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Registered Nurses
- Median
- $140,270
- p25
- $122,440
- p75
- $173,170
- p10
- $101,260
- p90
- $213,320
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -86%
Wisconsin
Registered Nurses
- Median
- $95,530
- p25
- $81,920
- p75
- $102,610
- p10
- $77,470
- p90
- $119,860
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.1
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.