PACU Nurse salary in Madison
A pacu nurse in the Madison, WI area earns an estimated $107,260 a year ($51.57/hr) — about 4% above the U.S. average, with most between $92,510 and $109,340. City figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
PACU Nurse — Madison, WI
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$107,260
+4% vs nationalHourly
$51.57/hr
- Typical range
- $92,510–$109,340
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $130,630
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $86,670
- Newer nurses
Part of PACU Nurse pay in Wisconsin.
Other nursing roles in Madison
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this metro.
What affects pacu nurse pay in Madison
State capital; strong academic market. For a pacu nurse, local pay also reflects the concentration of major hospital systems and academic medical centers, union contracts, shift differentials, unit acuity, and how competitive staffing is. Nights, weekends, and critical-care specialties typically add to base pay. Use the calculator to estimate your own.
How this estimate was calculated
Public wage data does not report PACU Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Madison, WI (May 2025) and applies a 1.06× specialty adjustment.
Local pay can vary well beyond this by specialty, shift, union status, employer type, overtime, and care setting. Treat it as a starting point — not an official Madison, WI wage.
Source year: 2025. Based on the national figure of $103,400 for this role.
Use this metro estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for Madison, based on national pay and local pay levels — not a guaranteed local wage.
- Your actual pay shifts with role and specialty, care setting, shift, overtime, union status, and years of experience — so compare a role-specific page and personalize the calculator.
- Reviewed salary submissions from nurses in Madison make this page more precise over time.
PACU Nurse salary in Madison — FAQ
- How much does a pacu nurse make in Madison?
- A pacu nurse in the Madison, WI area earns an estimated $107,260 a year — about $51.57 an hour, with most between $92,510 and $109,340. That's about 4% above the national average. This is an estimate based on the role's national pay and Madison's local pay level, not a guaranteed local wage.
- Is Madison a good place for pacu nurses?
- On pay, Madison runs about 4% above the national average for pacu nurses. Big-city wages are often offset by a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $107,260 against local housing and expenses.
- How does Madison pacu nurse pay compare to Wisconsin overall?
- Statewide, Wisconsin pacu nurses earn an estimated $101,260 a year, versus about $107,260 in Madison. Metro pay can run above or below the state figure depending on hospital concentration and local demand.
- 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 metro wage × specialty adjustment)
Public wage data does not report PACU Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Madison, WI (May 2025) and applies a 1.06× specialty adjustment.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national pacu nurse pay adjusted for Madison. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.