Travel Nurse Pay in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 2026 Cost of Living & GSA Rates
Economic analysis: GSA housing caps, average rent, and profitability verdict for travel nurses in Milwaukee.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
Pay and rent figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.
Economics Verdict
Ceiling Covers Rent: Milwaukee Travel Nursing
GSA Housing Cap (Weekly)
$1,008/wk
≈ $4,365/mo
Avg Rent (1BR)
$1,200/mo
Margin
$3,165/mo
Even the lowest GSA rate is 3.6x average 1BR rent
Judged on the lowest GSA rate of the year, not the peak. A ceiling is the most a tax-free housing stipend can be, not what an offer pays, and it is not extra pocket money: a stipend is meant to reimburse real lodging costs for a traveler with a valid tax home.
How the numbers here are checked
Tax figures are computed from published IRS and SSA sources and per diem from GSA, each carrying a citation and a retrieval date; our build fails if any loses one. Pay, rent and cost-of-living figures are our own editorial estimates. This page has not been reviewed by a licensed professional — see our methodology, and consult a CPA about your own situation.
Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.
Federal tax applies to wages after the $16,100 standard deduction; FICA applies to all wages. Tax-free stipends are excluded from both.
Same-state assignment — you file one resident return in your home state.
State income tax not included
We do not yet have a sourced bracket schedule for this state, so we are not estimating its income tax. A wrong state figure is worse than none. Federal and FICA figures above are complete and sourced; your true net pay will be lower than gross by more than the amounts shown, so the take-home figures on this page are labelled "before state tax" rather than presented as final net pay.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$93.56
Based on 36 hours in WI.
Gross Weekly Pay
$3,368
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,800
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$364
Federal + FICA only; state income tax not included
Net Before State Tax
$3,004
After federal + FICA; your state tax will lower this
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$39,053
Net before state tax
26-Week Assignment
$78,107
Net before state tax
Annual (52 weeks)
$156,214
Net before state tax
Take Home vs Taxes
Before state tax
$3,004
per week
Federal + FICA
$364
per week
Total Gross: $3,368 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,008
≈ $4,365/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Milwaukee
$1,200
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$3,165
Your stipend covers rent with $3,165 left over each month.
Find apartments under $1,200/month in Milwaukee:
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Staff vs. Travel Nurse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
An annual take-home comparison under stated assumptions. Change any input to match your own offers.
Staff Nurse
Weekly Gross
$1,296
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax)
$1,082
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (52 weeks)
$56,240
Travel Nurse
Weekly Gross (incl. stipends)
$3,368
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax) (while working)
$3,018
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (48 weeks)
$144,876
Under these assumptions, the travel contract nets $88,636 more per year
Travel is counted for 48 weeks and staff for 52, so the weekly gap while working is $1,937 in travel's favor.
How this is calculated: single filer, 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and FICA (SSA). Only the taxable wage is taxed; stipends are treated as tax-free, which requires a valid tax home. State income tax is not included on either side because it depends on your tax home as well as the assignment state; the Pay Calculator handles that where we have a sourced schedule.
Assumptions: the travel taxable rate is our editorial estimate for this place, the stipend is the GSA lodging plus meals-and-incidentals ceiling (the most a stipend can be, so real offers are often lower), and the staff rate is an editorial estimate relative to the travel rate. All are editable under "Customize & Detail". Staff benefits (health insurance, retirement match, paid leave) and travel costs (a second household, licensing, gaps between contracts) are not valued.
Want a detailed breakdown customized for your situation?
Travel Nurse Pay in Milwaukee
Average Hourly Rate
$50/hr
Average Weekly Pay
$2,000
GSA Lodging Rate
$144/night
GSA Meal Rate (M&IE)
$80/day
Cost of Living in Milwaukee
Cost of Living Index
95.2 (Below National Average)
Studio
$1000/mo
1 Bedroom
$1200/mo
2 Bedroom
$1600/mo
Does the Stipend Cover Rent in Milwaukee?
GSA's lodging ceiling for Milwaukee does not change by season: $144/night all year.
| Period | GSA lodging | Weekly ceiling | Monthly ceiling | vs $1,200 rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All year | $144/night | $1,008 | $4,365 | +$3,165/mo |
Source: GSA FY2027 per diem rates, converted at 4.33 weeks per month. Rent is our editorial one-bedroom estimate, not a listings survey. See the full month-by-month schedule on the Milwaukee GSA rates page, or test an actual offer in the stipend calculator.
How Milwaukee Compares in Wisconsin
- Estimated taxable pay: tied for 2nd highest of 5 tracked Wisconsin cities ($50/hr, editorial estimate).
- GSA lodging ceiling (annual peak): 1st highest of 5 ($144/night).
- One-bedroom rent: tied for 4th lowest of 5 ($1,200/mo, editorial estimate).
Other Wisconsin cities: Appleton, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Madison. State overview: Wisconsin travel nurse pay.
Top Hospitals in Milwaukee
- 🏥 Froedtert Hospital
- 🏥 Aurora Health Care
- 🏥 Ascension Wisconsin
Specialty Pay in Milwaukee
Estimated hourly rates for the specialties most in demand here. Click any specialty for certifications, demand and national pay detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel nurses make in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Travel nurses in Milwaukee typically earn between $45 and $60 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $50/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $56-71 per hour.
What are the GSA rates for Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
The GSA per diem rates for Milwaukee are: Lodging: $144/night, and Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE): $80/day — GSA publishes M&IE as a single combined rate, not a separate incidentals figure. These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts travel nurses can receive. For official rates, visit [GSA.gov](https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).
What is the cost of living in Milwaukee?
The cost of living index in Milwaukee is 95.2, which is below the national average. Average rent ranges from $1000 for a studio to $1600 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Does the GSA housing stipend cover rent in Milwaukee?
GSA's lodging ceiling for Milwaukee is $144/night all year, about $4,365/month. Against our editorial one-bedroom estimate of $1,200/month, that is $3,165 a month. A ceiling is the most a stipend can be, not what an offer pays, so check the offer's actual stipend.
What hospitals hire travel nurses in Milwaukee?
Top hospitals in Milwaukee that frequently hire travel nurses include Froedtert Hospital, Aurora Health Care, Ascension Wisconsin, and others. These facilities offer competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions for travel nurses.
What specialties are in demand in Milwaukee?
The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses in Milwaukee include ICU, ER, Med-Surg. These specialties typically offer higher pay rates and more contract opportunities.