StateRates

La Crosse-Onalaska salaries

The median worker in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earned $48,060 a year in 2024, about $23.11 an hour. That ranks #137 of the 391 metro areas published here, 2.9% below the national median.

Wisconsin Minnesota

Median pay $48,060 $23.11 per hour
Vs national -2.9% U.S. $49,500
Workers 83,080 wage and salary
Metro rank #137 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

La Crosse-Onalaska pays 1.8% less than Wisconsin as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Food Batchmakers 11.7× 1,080 $48,230
Bartenders 2.95× 1,180 $23,850
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1.86× 2,070 $60,020
Registered Nurses 1.57× 2,780 $95,800
Food Preparation Workers 1.5× 720 $33,120
Receptionists and Information Clerks 1.47× 760 $41,080
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.46× 540 $65,500
Cashiers 1.36× 2,310 $30,400
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1.35× 2,170 $45,330
Nursing Assistants 1.23× 920 $41,460
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1.21× 1,440 $36,390
Medical Assistants 1.17× 500 $49,720

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in La Crosse-Onalaska
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Financial Managers $130,400 $62.69 330
Medical and Health Services Managers $127,930 $61.51 260
Management Analysts $100,600 $48.36 270
Managers, All Other $100,490 $48.31 350
General and Operations Managers $100,120 $48.14 870
Software Developers $99,930 $48.04 380
Computer Systems Analysts $99,440 $47.81 210
Industrial Engineers $97,930 $47.08 230
Project Management Specialists $96,960 $46.62 420
Registered Nurses $95,800 $46.06 2,780
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $80,340 $38.62 340
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $79,730 $38.33 310
Network and Computer Systems Administrators $78,790 $37.88 220
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $78,710 $37.84 240
Accountants and Auditors $77,150 $37.09 640
Electricians $76,090 $36.58 300
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $67,550 $32.48 290
Training and Development Specialists $67,480 $32.44 310
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $66,060 $31.76 310
Healthcare Social Workers $65,990 $31.73 250
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $65,500 $31.49 540
Human Resources Specialists $65,180 $31.34 400
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $64,220 $30.87 240
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $63,340 $30.45 300
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $63,210 $30.39 590
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $62,860 $30.22 220
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $61,800 $29.71 340
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,760 $29.69 220
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $61,100 n/a 860
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $60,800 $29.23 790
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $60,760 n/a 430
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $60,660 n/a 470
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $60,600 $29.13 220
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $60,090 $28.89 520
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,020 $28.86 2,070
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $59,700 $28.70 330
Carpenters $58,830 $28.28 490
Food Service Managers $58,240 $28.00 200
Computer User Support Specialists $57,380 $27.59 410
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $56,620 $27.22 340
Construction Laborers $53,430 $25.69 570
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $52,200 $25.09 380
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $51,580 $24.80 910
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $51,510 $24.77 340
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $50,750 $24.40 250
Medical Assistants $49,720 $23.91 500
Billing and Posting Clerks $49,600 $23.85 360
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $48,430 $23.28 290
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $48,240 $23.19 790
Food Batchmakers $48,230 $23.19 1,080
Dental Assistants $48,110 $23.13 230
Social and Human Service Assistants $47,440 $22.81 270
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $47,020 $22.61 590
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $46,860 $22.53 440
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,640 $22.42 390
Firefighters $46,530 $22.37 270
Light Truck Drivers $46,290 $22.25 610
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $46,170 $22.20 820
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $45,330 $21.79 2,170
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $44,980 $21.62 720

Where most people work

Largest occupations in La Crosse-Onalaska by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Registered Nurses 2,780 $95,800 $46.06
Cashiers 2,310 $30,400 $14.62
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 2,170 $45,330 $21.79
Retail Salespersons 2,130 $33,610 $16.16
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 2,070 $60,020 $28.86
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 2,020 $35,430 $17.04
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,700 $28,580 $13.74
Office Clerks, General 1,470 $42,760 $20.56
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,440 $36,390 $17.50
Waiters and Waitresses 1,410 $28,960 $13.92
Customer Service Representatives 1,340 $41,400 $19.90
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,260 $30,890 $14.85
Bartenders 1,180 $23,850 $11.47
Food Batchmakers 1,080 $48,230 $23.19
Nursing Assistants 920 $41,460 $19.94
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 910 $51,580 $24.80
Cooks, Restaurant 900 $36,510 $17.55
General and Operations Managers 870 $100,120 $48.14
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 860 $61,100 n/a
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 830 $36,330 n/a

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Wisconsin metro areas

La Crosse-Onalaska pay: common questions

What is the average salary in La Crosse-Onalaska?

The median across all occupations is $48,060, or $23.11 an hour, covering 83,080 wage and salary workers. The mean is $61,300, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does La Crosse-Onalaska pay more than the rest of Wisconsin?

No. The metro median of $48,060 is 1.8% below the Wisconsin median of $48,930. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in La Crosse-Onalaska?

Financial Managers ($130,400), Medical and Health Services Managers ($127,930), Management Analysts ($100,600). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is La Crosse-Onalaska unusually full of?

Food Batchmakers, at 11.7× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.