Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) salary in Wisconsin
Wisconsin nurse anesthetists earn a median of $273,170 a year ($131.33 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 15% above the national median of $236,590, and ranks 12th of 44 states.
Median, Wisconsin
$273,170
Mean $272,470
Middle half earns
$245,730 to $288,540
US: $206,730 to $294,350
Employed in Wisconsin
990
1.01x the national concentration
Where Wisconsin sits in the range
Wisconsin
Statewide
United States
National
Minneapolis
Metro area
Milwaukee
Metro area
Madison
Metro area
Wausau
Metro area
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by percentile
Ten percent of Wisconsin nurse anesthetists earned less than $223,690 and ten percent earned more than $320,630, a spread of $96,940. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | Wisconsin | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $223,690 | $155,250 | +44.1% |
| 25th | $245,730 | $206,730 | +18.9% |
| Median | $273,170 | $236,590 | +15.5% |
| 75th | $288,540 | $294,350 | -2.0% |
| 90th | $320,630 | $339,500 | -5.6% |
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by metro area
BLS published CRNA pay for 7 metro areas that include part of Wisconsin. Madison, WI has the highest median at $283,980. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WImoderate precision | 1,250 | $258,570 | $230,800 to $270,720 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WImoderate precision | 210 | $282,840 | $264,710 to $288,540 |
| Madison, WI | 150 | $283,980 | $233,580 to $286,110 |
| Wausau, WImoderate precision | 70 | $269,790 | $269,730 to $320,630 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 60 | $260,760 | $222,940 to $286,360 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MNlow precision | 60 | $225,450 | $225,450 to $275,520 |
| Appleton, WI | not published | $269,690 | $230,060 to $269,690 |
How CRNA pay compares with other clinicians in Wisconsin
| Occupation | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $273,170 | $236,590 |
| Physician assistant | $133,950 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $131,980 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | $95,530 | $97,550 |
The Wisconsin CRNA workforce
BLS counts 990 nurse anesthetists on Wisconsin payrolls, or 0.34 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, close to the national concentration.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $245,730, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Wisconsin nurse anesthetists earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $288,540, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about CRNA pay in Wisconsin
How much does a CRNA make in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists in Wisconsin was $273,170 in May 2025, and the mean was $272,470, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $245,730 and $288,540.
What is the hourly rate for nurse anesthetists in Wisconsin?
The median hourly wage was $131.33 and the mean was $130.99. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do CRNAs earn the most in Wisconsin?
Among Wisconsin metro areas with published data, Madison, WI had the highest median at $283,980, and La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN the lowest at $225,450.
How does Wisconsin rank for CRNA pay?
Wisconsin ranks 12th of 44 states (including DC) by median CRNA pay, 15% above the national median of $236,590. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many nurse anesthetists work in Wisconsin?
BLS estimated 990 nurse anesthetists employed in Wisconsin in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1151, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
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