A compliant wheel assembly is provided for moving a caliper jaw relative to a caliper spar. The wheel assembly includes a rotary bearing member, a rotary actuation member and a compliant coupling element. The rotary bearing member is coupled to the caliper jaw and may engage the caliper spar. The rotary actuation member is actuated by a user to apply a measuring force. The compliant coupling element is configured to compliantly couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member. Using the compliant wheel assembly, a user is able to apply a more consistent amount of measurement force than could typically be achieved with a conventional rigid thumb wheel in caliper. In one implementation, a displacement indicator may also be provided that is responsive to the rotational displacement between the rotary bearing and actuation members for indicating an amount of measurement force that is being applied.