Registered Nurse Salary in La Crosse, WI
Registered Nurses in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median $98,370 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,200 take-home, or $6,183 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in La Crosse, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,811
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,099
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,426
- Wisconsin income tax$3,833
- Take-home pay$74,200
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro spans Wisconsin, Minnesota. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in La Crosse, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,820 | $38.38 | $62,133 | $5,178 |
| 25th percentile | $79,820 | $38.38 | $62,133 | $5,178 |
| Median (50th) | $98,370 | $47.29 | $74,200 | $6,183 |
| 75th percentile | $102,190 | $49.13 | $76,685 | $6,390 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,220 | $57.80 | $88,414 | $7,368 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $98,370 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 registered nurse's $74,200 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,855 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 1.6× the national concentration of registered nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
La Crosse, WI ranks #54 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 54 | La Crosse, WI | $98,370 | $74,200 | $80,855 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Madison, WI — $101,190
- Fond du Lac, WI — $93,890
- Eau Claire, WI — $93,410
- Milwaukee, WI — $97,360
- Janesville, WI — $93,030
- Wausau, WI — $89,190
- Oshkosh, WI — $87,340
- Appleton, WI — $86,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in La Crosse, WI?
The median registered nurse salary in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $98,370 a year, or about $47.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,820 and $102,190.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in La Crosse, WI?
On the median $98,370 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $74,200 a year ($6,183 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,833 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is La Crosse, WI a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 8.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,855 would in a typical U.S. city. La Crosse, WI ranks #54 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 14% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.