La Crosse Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
La Crosse, WI: $23.20/hr median hourly wage, $48,260 median annual salary, cost of living index 85.9, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Wisconsin taxes.
La Crosse Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in La Crosse, WI is $23.20/hr,and the median annual wage is $48,260. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.38/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.94/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan statistical area (84,380 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so La Crosse shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$48,260
$23.20/hr
Cost of Living
85.9
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.3%
rate
La Crosse, WI Overview
Population
52,680
Median Salary
$48,260
Average Salary
$62,770
Avg Commute
20 min
Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Rent
$930/mo
Job Growth
+2.7%
Sales Tax
5%
La Crosse is located in Wisconsin with a population of 52,680. The median annual wage across all occupations is $48,260 ($23.20/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro), which is $2,720 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 20 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.7%.
La Crosse Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in La Crosse, WI built around the $48,260 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $29,921 | $14.38/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $48,260 | $23.20/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $68,529 | $32.94/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $85,903 | $41.30/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
La Crosse Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in La Crosse, WI, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,584
$3,298.64/month · $1,522.45/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.0%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,522.45 take-home per paycheck after estimated Wisconsin and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$48,260
Federal Tax
-$3,611
State Tax
-$1,373
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,692
Net Pay
$39,584
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,021.67 | $48,260.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$300.93 | -$3,611.20 |
| Wisconsin State Tax (2.85% eff.) | -$114.43 | -$1,373.21 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$249.34 | -$2,992.12 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$58.31 | -$699.77 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,298.64 | $39,583.70 |
Salary Comparison: La Crosse vs Other Cities
See how La Crosse's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | $48,260 | 85.9 | $56,182 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Toledo, OH | $48,220 | 82 | $58,805 |
| Lewiston, ID | $48,300 | 96.6 | $50,000 |
| Bowling Green, OH | $48,220 | 87.7 | $54,983 |
| Kenosha, WI | $48,310 | 90 | $53,678 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in La Crosse
La Crosse's cost of living index is 85.9 (national average = 100). Living in La Crosse is 14.099999999999994% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$930
Annual Rent Cost
$11,160
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,584 annual take-home pay in La Crosse has the purchasing power of approximately $46,081 in an average-cost US area. Your $48,260 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in La Crosse
La Crosse's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $48,260.
Salary Tips for La Crosse Workers
- Your salary goes further here. La Crosse has a cost of living 14.099999999999994% below the national average. A salary of $48,260 here has the purchasing power of about $56,182 in an average-cost area.
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 7.65% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. La Crosse's top industries include Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $48,260 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Wisconsin
Madison
Manitowoc
Menomonee Falls
Milwaukee
New Berlin
Oak Creek
Oshkosh
Racine
Sheboygan
Sun Prairie
Waukesha
Wauwatosa
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate La Crosse salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with La Crosse indexed at 85.9.
- Median salary: $48,260 annual, $23.20 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN MSA (84,380 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $62,770 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for La Crosse was $47,348.
- Tax burden reflects Wisconsin 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 7.65%) (no local income tax), sales tax (5%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for La Crosse: 3.3%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.7% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Wisconsin.
- Housing context: median home price $226,000, median rent $930/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for La Crosse, WI:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, La Crosse unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, La Crosse QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Wisconsin, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. La Crosse's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Wisconsin labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in La Crosse, WI?
The median hourly wage in La Crosse, WI is $23.20 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $48,260. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.38/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.94/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in La Crosse, WI?
The median salary in La Crosse, WI is $48,260 per year, or $23.20 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area). The BLS mean salary is $62,770. This is $2,720 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in La Crosse, WI?
La Crosse's cost of living index is 85.9 (national average = 100), meaning it is 14.099999999999994% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $226,000 and the median monthly rent is $930.
What are the best industries in La Crosse?
The top industries in La Crosse, WI include Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 2.7% and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $48,260.
How does La Crosse's salary compare to other cities?
La Crosse's median salary of $48,260 is 5.3% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 85.9), the real purchasing power is approximately $56,182.
What is the minimum wage in La Crosse, WI?
The minimum wage in La Crosse, WI is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.