Do operating room nurses or icu nurses earn more in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $106,990 a year versus $103,170 for operating room nurses, a gap of about $3,820 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Wisconsin pay for the closest reported role.

How much is the operating room nurse vs icu nurse pay gap in Wisconsin?

The estimated gap in Wisconsin is about $3,820 a year, or roughly 4% 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 estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Wisconsin pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

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.

Wisconsin · WI

Operating Room Nurse vs ICU Nurse salary in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $106,990 a year versus $103,170 for operating room nurses, a gap of about $3,820 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Wisconsin.

Operating Room Nurse — Wisconsin

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$103,170

Near national

Hourly

$49.60/hr

Median $103,170

$83,670Middle 50%: $88,470–$110,820$129,450

Typical range: $88,470–$110,820; What most nurses earn
High end: $129,450; Top earners
Entry level: $83,670; Newer nurses

ICU Nurse — Wisconsin

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$106,990

Near national

Hourly

$51.44/hr

Median $106,990

$86,770Middle 50%: $91,750–$114,920$134,240

Typical range: $91,750–$114,920; What most nurses earn
High end: $134,240; Top earners
Entry level: $86,770; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Wisconsin

Operating room and ICU nurse pay is comparable, as both are high-acuity RN specialties on the same wage base. OR nursing centers on perioperative and surgical support with call coverage; ICU on continuous critical care. Certifications (CNOR, CCRN), call, and the local market drive most of the difference. 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 Operating Room Nurse vs ICU Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

Operating Room Nurse vs ICU Nurse in Wisconsin — FAQ

Do operating room nurses or icu nurses earn more in Wisconsin?: In Wisconsin, icu nurses earn more — an estimated $106,990 a year versus $103,170 for operating room nurses, a gap of about $3,820 (roughly 4% more). Both are estimates: public wage data does not report these roles separately, so each starts from reported Wisconsin pay for the closest reported role.
How much is the operating room nurse vs icu nurse pay gap in Wisconsin?: The estimated gap in Wisconsin is about $3,820 a year, or roughly 4% 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 estimates, not separately reported wages. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Wisconsin pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
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 specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report Operating Room Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Wisconsin (May 2025) and applies a 1.08× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Wisconsin. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.