Food Preparation Worker Salary in La Crosse, WI
Food Preparation Workers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median $34,900 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,468 take-home, or $2,456 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in La Crosse, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,008
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,164
- Medicare (1.45%)$506
- Wisconsin income tax$755
- Take-home pay$29,468
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro spans Wisconsin, Minnesota. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in La Crosse, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,190 | $11.63 | $21,197 | $1,766 |
| 25th percentile | $28,320 | $13.62 | $24,453 | $2,038 |
| Median (50th) | $34,900 | $16.78 | $29,468 | $2,456 |
| 75th percentile | $37,540 | $18.05 | $31,473 | $2,623 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,640 | $20.98 | $36,106 | $3,009 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,900 buys in La Crosse, WI
Prices in La Crosse, WI are 8.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 31% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,468 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,111 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
La Crosse, WI has 1.4× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
La Crosse, WI ranks #25 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 25 | La Crosse, WI | $34,900 | $29,468 | $32,111 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $36,940
- Appleton, WI — $34,060
- Milwaukee, WI — $35,470
- Eau Claire, WI — $33,680
- Green Bay, WI — $32,720
- Oshkosh, WI — $32,340
- Janesville, WI — $32,150
- Wausau, WI — $31,720
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in La Crosse, WI?
The median food preparation worker salary in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $34,900 a year, or about $16.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,320 and $37,540.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in La Crosse, WI?
On the median $34,900 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $29,468 a year ($2,456 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $755 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is La Crosse, WI a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 8.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,111 would in a typical U.S. city. La Crosse, WI ranks #25 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in La Crosse, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in La Crosse, WI is $866 a month ($1,131 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in La Crosse, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,460
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,260
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,380
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,280
- Bartender — $23,130