Travel nursing in Wisconsin
Stipend ceilings by area, compact license status, and every hospital guide in the state. Real numbers, with sources.
Housing stipend ceilings in Wisconsin
The most an agency can pay tax-free for housing is the GSA lodging rate × 7 nights. Cheapest: $791/wk (standard rate, every county not listed below, 109 hospitals). Most expensive: Milwaukee at $1,008/wk on average.
| Area (county) | Housing /wk | Meals /wk | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee Milwaukee | $1,008 flat all year | $560 | 10 |
Madison Dane | $893 $791–$966 · peaks Oct, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | $560 | 7 |
Sturgeon Bay Door | $867 $791–$973 · peaks Oct, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | $560 | 1 |
Everywhere else Standard CONUS rate | $791 | $476 | 109 |
Got an offer? Decode it against the ceiling for your work ZIP and dates →
Wisconsin nursing license
Wisconsin is a compact state. If your primary state of residence is another compact state and you hold a multistate license, you can work here without a new license. If you live in Wisconsin, your multistate license comes from the Wisconsin board.
If you don't have a multistate license: typical endorsement steps
- Apply for licensure by endorsement on the Wisconsin board of nursing's site.
- Verify your current license through Nursys (or your original board if it doesn't use Nursys).
- Complete the criminal background check and fingerprints if the board requires them.
- Ask whether a temporary license is available while the full application processes, and how long processing takes now.
Requirements and timelines vary. Wisconsin board contact details (NCSBN) →
Where can your license take you?
Source: NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map, checked 2026-10-11. Covers RN/LPN compact licensure for the 50 states and DC. Confirm with the state board before you accept an assignment.
Charting systems in Wisconsin
Certified EHR reported to CMS by 118 of 127 hospitals (9 not reported, including VA hospitals). Know the system before day one.
- Epic98 · 83%
- Oracle Health12 · 10%
- MEDITECH8 · 7%
Top travel-nurse markets in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI
- Madison, WI
Questions
- What is the maximum tax-free housing stipend in Wisconsin?
- Under GSA FY2027 rates it ranges from $791/week (the standard rate for counties not listed) to $1,008/week in Milwaukee at peak season. The meals and incidentals ceiling is $476/week or more depending on the area.
- Is Wisconsin a compact nursing license state?
- Compact state (Enacted NLC), per the NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map checked 2026-10-11.
- How many hospitals are in Wisconsin?
- CMS lists 127 acute care, critical access, children's and VA/DoD hospitals in Wisconsin. TravelNurseMap has living guides for 9 of them in the top travel-nurse markets.
- What EHR do hospitals in Wisconsin use?
- Of the 118 Wisconsin hospitals that reported a certified EHR to CMS for 2023–2024, 83% use Epic, 10% use Oracle Health, 7% use MEDITECH. Each hospital guide shows its own system.