Travel ICU Nurse Jobs
Wisconsin 2026
$2,000–$3,800/wk
- UW Health Madison CVICU — the only Level I trauma center serving most of Wisconsin; cardiac surgery & heart transplant; academic research hospital; CCRN strongly preferred; $2,200–$3,100/wk
- Froedtert Health (MCW) Milwaukee — Level I trauma; adult trauma ICU, CVICU, MICU, Neuro ICU; largest academic health system in metro Milwaukee; $2,100–$3,000/wk
- Children's Wisconsin Milwaukee — only Level IV NICU in Wisconsin; pediatric ICU & pediatric cardiac ICU; CCRN-P preferred; $2,200–$3,000/wk
- Northern WI rural crisis — Wausau, Rhinelander, Northwoods — severe CCRN shortage, farm trauma demand, crisis rates up to $3,800/wk; NLC Compact for immediate start
Wisconsin Is a Full NLC Compact Member
Wisconsin joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and accepts multistate compact licenses from all 40+ participating states. ICU travel nurses with a compact license can begin a Wisconsin assignment immediately — no separate WI endorsement application, no waiting period. This covers UW Health Madison, Froedtert Health Milwaukee, Children's Wisconsin, Aurora BayCare Green Bay, and Aspirus Wausau. Non-compact nurses from California, New York, and Illinois must apply for Wisconsin RN endorsement before starting work. Wisconsin's Board of Nursing typically processes endorsement applications within 4–6 weeks.
Wisconsin 7.65% Tax — Travel ICU Nurse Stipend Reality
Wisconsin's 7.65% top income tax rate is lower than neighboring Minnesota (9.85%) — but for travel ICU nurses, the real tax burden is far lower still. Travel nursing contracts are structured with tax-free housing and meal stipends not subject to Wisconsin income tax. Only your taxable base wage — typically $1,100–$1,300/week on a $3,000/week contract — is subject to state income tax. This brings the effective rate down to approximately 3–5% of total package value.
Surrounding State Income Tax Comparison
Weekly Tax Cost on $3,000/wk Package
Assuming $1,200 taxable base wage per week (remainder tax-free stipend):
Estimates based on taxable base wage only. Individual tax situations vary. Consult a travel nurse tax advisor.
Wisconsin Tax Takeaway: Lower Than MN — Effective Rate 3–5%
Wisconsin taxes only your taxable base wage — not your housing or meal stipends. On a properly structured travel ICU contract with a $1,200 taxable base and $1,800 in tax-free stipends, your Wisconsin tax burden is approximately $92/week — an effective rate of about 3–5% on total contract value. Wisconsin sits in the middle of its neighbors: lower than Minnesota's 9.85% but higher than Michigan's 4.25% flat rate and Illinois's 4.95% flat rate. Rural northern WI crisis rates ($2,600–$3,800/wk) more than offset the moderate tax burden for nurses willing to work in the Northwoods region.
Why Travel ICU Nurses Choose Wisconsin
Five reasons Wisconsin stands out in the travel ICU nurse market for 2026.
NLC Compact Member State
Wisconsin is a full NLC Compact state. ICU travel nurses with a multistate compact license from any of the 40+ participating states can practice in Wisconsin immediately — no separate WI endorsement required. Fast onboarding at UW Health Madison, Froedtert Health Milwaukee, and Children's Wisconsin.
UW Health — Only Level I Trauma for Most of WI
UW Health Madison is the only Level I trauma center in Wisconsin serving the majority of the state. Its CVICU handles cardiac surgery and heart transplant — the premier cardiac critical care destination in WI. Academic research hospital with UW-Madison medical residents and fellows. CCRN adds $250–$400/wk.
Northern WI Rural Crisis — $2,600–$3,800/wk
Northern Wisconsin (Wausau, Rhinelander, Northwoods, Eau Claire) faces severe year-round ICU crisis staffing. Remote geography, dairy farming trauma demand, and inability to retain CCRN staff push crisis-rate contracts to $2,600–$3,800/wk — the highest in the state.
7.65% Tax — Stipends Drop Effective Rate to 3–5%
Wisconsin's 7.65% top rate is lower than Minnesota (9.85%) — and travel nurse stipends are tax-free. On a $3,000/wk contract with $1,200 taxable base, effective Wisconsin tax is ~$92/wk or 3–5% of total package. Lower than MN but higher than IL (4.95%) and MI (4.25%).
Children's Wisconsin — Only Pediatric CVICU in WI
Children's Wisconsin in Milwaukee is the only Level IV NICU in the state and the only facility with a dedicated pediatric cardiac ICU. Travel nurses with PICU or pediatric cardiac ICU experience are in sustained high demand. CCRN-P preferred and adds a meaningful premium.
Top 5 Wisconsin ICU Facilities for Travel Nurses
The highest-volume and highest-paying ICU assignments in WI — from UW Health Madison heart transplant CVICU to northern Wisconsin rural crisis contracts.
UW Health — University of Wisconsin Hospital (UW Madison)
$2,200–$3,100/wkMadison • Only Level I Trauma for Most of WI — Academic Research Hospital — Heart Transplant CVICU
ICU Units: MICU, Surg ICU, Neuro ICU, CVICU (cardiac surgery & heart transplant), Level IV NICU
UW Health is the only Level I trauma center in Wisconsin serving the majority of the state. Its 580+ bed academic research hospital is affiliated with UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. The CVICU handles cardiac surgery and heart transplant — the premier cardiac critical care destination in Wisconsin. CCRN is strongly preferred for CVICU and MICU assignments. Academic environment with UW medical residents and fellows. Highest RN base salary among Wisconsin academic centers.
Froedtert Health — Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Milwaukee
$2,100–$3,000/wkMilwaukee • Level I Trauma — Largest Academic Health System Metro Milwaukee — Adult Trauma ICU
ICU Units: Adult Trauma ICU, CVICU, MICU, Neuro ICU
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin is the largest academic health system in the Milwaukee metro — a Level I trauma center with adult trauma ICU, CVICU, MICU, and Neuro ICU. Academic teaching hospital with MCW medical residents. Its CVICU handles complex cardiac surgery cases. CCRN is preferred across all ICU units. Froedtert is the only academic Level I trauma center serving metro Milwaukee's 1.6 million residents.
Children's Wisconsin — Milwaukee
$2,200–$3,000/wkMilwaukee • Only Level IV NICU in WI — Pediatric ICU & Pediatric Cardiac ICU — 296 Beds
ICU Units: PICU (Pediatric ICU), Pediatric Cardiac ICU, Level IV NICU
Children's Wisconsin is the only Level IV NICU in the state — the highest-acuity children's hospital in Wisconsin. Its PICU and pediatric cardiac ICU handle the most complex pediatric critical care cases in the state. 296 licensed beds. Travel nurses with PICU or pediatric cardiac ICU experience are in high demand. CCRN-P (pediatric CCRN) is preferred for PICU assignments and adds a meaningful premium to total packages.
Aurora BayCare Medical Center — Advocate Aurora Health
$2,000–$2,800/wkGreen Bay • Level II Trauma — Largest Hospital NE Wisconsin — Cardiac ICU & MICU
ICU Units: Cardiac ICU, MICU
Aurora BayCare is the largest hospital in northeastern Wisconsin — a Level II trauma center serving a large rural catchment area across NE Wisconsin and the UP. Its Cardiac ICU and MICU handle significant volume from communities that lack specialty ICU capacity locally. Part of Advocate Aurora Health, the largest health system in the upper Midwest. Consistent ICU travel demand driven by the region's large rural population.
Aspirus Wausau Hospital + Northern WI Rural ICU Crisis
$2,600–$3,800/wkWausau / Rhinelander / Eau Claire • Level II Trauma Central WI — Dairy & Farm Injury Corridor — Rural ICU Crisis
ICU Units: MICU, Cardiac ICU, Rural Critical Access ICU
Aspirus Wausau is the central Wisconsin Level II trauma hub. The surrounding dairy farming and paper mill injury corridor produces consistent agricultural ICU demand — farm machinery injuries, chemical exposures, and occupational trauma. Northern Wisconsin (Rhinelander, Northwoods, Eau Claire/Mayo Clinic Health System) faces severe year-round CCRN shortages, pushing rural crisis ICU rates to $2,600-$3,800/wk — rivaling or exceeding Madison and Milwaukee academic pay.
Wisconsin ICU Travel Nurse Pay by Market — 2026
All-in weekly packages including tax-free housing and meal stipends. Rates vary by unit, experience, and CCRN certification.
| Market | Facility Type | Weekly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Northern WI Crisis ICU (Wausau/Rhinelander/Northwoods) | Crisis Rate — Severe CCRN Shortage | $2,600–$3,800/wk |
| UW Health Madison — CVICU Heart Transplant / MICU / Neuro ICU | Only Level I Trauma WI (Academic Research) | $2,200–$3,100/wk |
| Children's Wisconsin — PICU / Pediatric Cardiac ICU / Level IV NICU | Only Level IV NICU in WI (Milwaukee) | $2,200–$3,000/wk |
| Froedtert/MCW Milwaukee — Trauma ICU / CVICU / Neuro ICU | Level I Trauma Academic (Milwaukee) | $2,100–$3,000/wk |
| Aurora BayCare Green Bay — Cardiac ICU / MICU | Level II Trauma NE Wisconsin | $2,000–$2,800/wk |
| Aspirus Wausau — MICU / Cardiac ICU | Level II Trauma Central Wisconsin | $2,000–$2,700/wk |
Rates as of April 2026. All packages subject to change based on facility needs and market conditions. Contact CatSol for current confirmed rates.
Live Wisconsin ICU Travel Nurse Jobs
Updated every 4 hours from active assignments
Wisconsin ICU Shortage — New Openings Weekly
Wisconsin ICU contracts — especially at UW Health Madison and northern WI crisis sites — are filled quickly. Submit your profile now so our recruiters can match you to the next available WI ICU contract.
Get Notified of WI ICU OpeningsUW Health Madison — ICU Deep Dive
UW Health is the only Level I trauma center in Wisconsin serving the majority of the state. As an academic research hospital affiliated with the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, it concentrates the most complex critical care cases in Wisconsin — cardiac surgery and heart transplant in the CVICU, complex trauma, and multi-system ICU management. Travel ICU nurses at UW Health work alongside UW medical residents and specialty fellows.
CVICU — Cardiac Surgery & Heart Transplant
UW Health CVICU handles cardiac surgery and heart transplant, making it the premier cardiac critical care destination in Wisconsin. CCRN is strongly expected and adds $250-$400/wk. Complex LVAD management, post-cardiac surgery recovery, and high-acuity cardiovascular cases from across the state.
Medical ICU (MICU)
UW Health MICU manages complex multi-system critical care cases as the state referral center for the most severe illness in Wisconsin. Academic teaching environment with UW internal medicine residents and fellows. High-acuity multisystem organ failure, complex sepsis, and medical emergencies referred from hospitals statewide.
Neurological ICU (Neuro ICU)
Complex TBI, subarachnoid hemorrhage, post-neurosurgical recovery, and acute stroke management. UW Neuro ICU works in close coordination with UW Neurology and Neurosurgery. Handles cases from across Wisconsin that require Level I neurocritical care.
Surgical ICU (Surg ICU)
Post-operative critical care for UW's high-volume surgical programs including complex oncologic surgery, organ transplant, and cardiovascular surgery. Academic surgical fellows and residents. High-acuity postoperative management for the state's most complex surgical cases.
Level IV NICU
UW Health operates a Level IV NICU — the highest-acuity neonatal intensive care unit level — caring for the most premature and critically ill newborns in Wisconsin. Travel NICU-trained ICU nurses with Level IV experience are in high demand at this unit.
UW Research Hospital Environment
UW Health is a research university hospital, integrating clinical care with active research programs in critical care, cardiovascular surgery, and transplant medicine. Travel ICU nurses at UW work in one of the most intellectually stimulating hospital environments in the upper Midwest.
UW Health Travel ICU Contract Details
Pay Range
$2,200–$3,100/wk
Experience Required
2+ years recent ICU experience
Certification
CCRN strongly preferred; adds $250–$400/wk
Unique Advantage
Only Level I trauma for most of WI; heart transplant CVICU; research hospital
Northern Wisconsin ICU Crisis — Rural Shortage & Crisis-Rate Pay
Northern Wisconsin — the dairy farming and paper mill corridor stretching from Wausau through Rhinelander and into the Northwoods — faces a year-round ICU staffing crisis. Remote geography, agricultural injury demand from farm machinery accidents, and an inability to recruit and retain permanent CCRN staff produce chronic crisis-rate ICU contracts. Mayo Clinic Health System operates several northern WI facilities (Eau Claire) adding to regional demand.
Northern WI ICU Demand by Site
- Aspirus Wausau HospitalLevel II trauma hub for central Wisconsin. MICU and Cardiac ICU. Farm machinery trauma corridor. Dairy and paper mill industry injury demand.
- Aspirus Rhinelander — Northwoods ICUCritical access and regional hospital serving the Northwoods. Severe CCRN shortage. Crisis rates year-round for ICU-capable nurses.
- Mayo Clinic Health System — Eau ClaireMayo Clinic affiliate in western Wisconsin. Regional referral for the Chippewa Valley. Consistent ICU travel demand with Mayo-associated pay rates.
- HSHS Sacred Heart — Eau ClaireRegional hospital in western Wisconsin serving the Chippewa/Eau Claire metro. ICU travel demand driven by regional shortage.
- Mile Bluff Medical Center / Critical Access NorthwoodsMultiple critical access ICU-capable hospitals across the Northwoods (Mauston, Tomahawk, Merrill). Highest per-facility crisis premiums in Wisconsin.
Why Northern WI = Reliable High-Pay ICU Work
Dairy farming machinery injuries
Wisconsin is the nation's largest dairy state — farm machinery accidents produce consistent agricultural trauma ICU demand year-round
Paper mill occupational injuries
Central and northern WI paper mills generate occupational injury cases requiring ICU-level critical care
Remote Northwoods geography
Extreme rural isolation in the Northwoods makes it nearly impossible to recruit and retain permanent CCRN staff long-term
Year-round structural shortage
Northern WI ICU crisis is structural — contracts renew reliably, producing stable high-pay travel opportunities every cycle
Crisis-Rate ICU Pay: $2,600–$3,800/wk
Northern Wisconsin ICU crisis-rate contracts consistently pay $2,600–$3,800/wk — the highest ICU rates in Wisconsin and competitive with any Midwest travel ICU market. Travel ICU nurses with 2+ years of MICU or ventilator management experience and willingness to work in rural northern Wisconsin can access the top tier of Wisconsin ICU compensation. CCRN certification is strongly preferred and adds a premium to already-elevated crisis-rate packages.
Milwaukee ICU Market — Froedtert, Children's Wisconsin & Beyond
Milwaukee is Wisconsin's largest ICU market — anchored by Froedtert Health/MCW (Level I trauma, academic teaching), Children's Wisconsin (the state's only Level IV NICU and pediatric cardiac ICU), and Aurora BayCare. Together they produce consistent and diverse ICU travel demand across adult, pediatric, and cardiac subspecialties.
Froedtert Health/MCW — Adult Trauma ICU & CVICU
Largest academic health system in metro Milwaukee. Level I trauma with adult trauma ICU, CVICU, MICU, and Neuro ICU. Academic teaching hospital with MCW medical residents. CCRN strongly preferred across all ICU units.
Children's Wisconsin — Only Pediatric CVICU in WI
Wisconsin's only Level IV NICU and only pediatric cardiac ICU. 296-bed children's hospital handling the state's highest-acuity pediatric critical care. PICU and pediatric cardiac ICU travel demand is sustained year-round. CCRN-P preferred.
Advocate Aurora Health — Metro Milwaukee ICU
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center (Milwaukee) is a major cardiac surgery center and part of the Advocate Aurora system — the largest health system in the upper Midwest. Cardiac ICU and MICU with strong travel nurse demand across the metro.
Milwaukee ICU Travel Rates — 2026
Milwaukee ICU travel nurses typically earn $2,000–$3,000/wk depending on facility, unit, and CCRN status. Froedtert/MCW pays at the higher end for Trauma ICU and CVICU assignments. Children's Wisconsin commands top rates for PICU and pediatric cardiac ICU nurses. CCRN and CCRN-P certification each add $250–$400/wk at Milwaukee academic centers.
Wisconsin Travel ICU Nurse FAQ
Common questions from travel ICU nurses considering Wisconsin assignments.
Is Wisconsin an NLC Compact state for ICU nurses?
Yes. Wisconsin is a full NLC Compact member state. ICU travel nurses holding a multistate compact license from any of the 40+ participating states can practice in Wisconsin immediately without a separate WI endorsement. This covers assignments at UW Health Madison, Froedtert Health Milwaukee, Children's Wisconsin, and Aurora BayCare Green Bay. Non-compact nurses from California, New York, or Illinois must apply for Wisconsin RN endorsement before starting work.
What does UW Health pay travel ICU nurses?
Travel ICU nurses at UW Health Madison typically earn $2,200-$3,100 per week all-in. UW Health is the only Level I trauma center in Wisconsin serving most of the state, making it the primary destination for the most complex critical care cases. Its CVICU handles cardiac surgery and heart transplant at volumes that make it the premier cardiac critical care site in Wisconsin. CCRN certification is strongly preferred and adds $250-$400 per week.
What ICU specialties are in highest demand in Wisconsin?
CVICU demand is highest at UW Health Madison (cardiac surgery, heart transplant) and Froedtert/MCW Milwaukee (adult trauma ICU, CVICU). MICU and Neuro ICU demand is strong at both Level I centers. Children's Wisconsin is the only facility in the state with a Level IV NICU and pediatric cardiac ICU — PICU and CCRN-P nurses are in sustained demand. Northern Wisconsin rural crisis sites (Wausau, Rhinelander, Northwoods) produce elevated crisis-pay ICU contracts year-round due to severe CCRN shortages and farm trauma demand.
How does the Wisconsin 7.65% tax affect ICU contract take-home?
Wisconsin's 7.65% top income tax rate is lower than Minnesota (9.85%) but higher than neighboring flat-rate states like Michigan (4.25%) and Illinois (4.95%). However, most travel nurse income consists of tax-free stipends. On a $3,000/week ICU contract with $1,200 taxable base wage and $1,800 in tax-free stipends, your effective Wisconsin tax burden is approximately $92/week — an effective rate of about 3-5% on total contract value. By comparison: Minnesota at 9.85% costs ~$118/wk, Illinois at 4.95% costs ~$59/wk, Michigan at 4.25% costs ~$51/wk, and Iowa at 6% costs ~$72/wk on the same base.
What CCRN certifications improve pay in Wisconsin?
CCRN certification adds $250-$400 per week at UW Health Madison and Froedtert/MCW, both of which strongly prefer CCRN for CVICU and MICU given their academic complexity and research hospital environments. CCRN-CMC (cardiac medicine) is valued at UW Health CVICU for cardiac surgery and heart transplant cases. At Children's Wisconsin, CCRN-P (pediatric) is preferred for PICU and pediatric cardiac ICU assignments. Over a 13-week Wisconsin assignment, CCRN adds $3,250-$5,200 in total compensation above non-certified rates.
What makes UW Health Madison unique for travel ICU nurses?
UW Health is the only Level I trauma center in Wisconsin serving the majority of the state, concentrating the most complex critical care cases — cardiac surgery, heart transplant, complex trauma, and multi-system organ failure — that smaller Wisconsin hospitals refer out. As an academic research hospital affiliated with UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, travel nurses work alongside UW medical residents and specialty fellows in a high-complexity environment with unmatched case diversity. MICU, Surg ICU, Neuro ICU, and CVICU collectively cover all major critical care subspecialties under one roof, offering travel nurses the widest clinical exposure available in Wisconsin.
Explore More Travel Nursing Resources
Find Your Wisconsin ICU Contract
$2,000–$3,800/wk • NLC Compact • UW Health Heart Transplant CVICU • Northern WI Crisis Rates
CatSol Healthcare Staffing connects experienced ICU travel nurses with top Wisconsin facilities — from UW Health Madison's heart transplant CVICU to Children's Wisconsin pediatric ICU and northern Wisconsin Northwoods crisis-rate rural ICU contracts. Our recruiters specialize in ICU placement and know the Wisconsin market.