Waiter and Waitress Salary in La Crosse, WI
Waiters and Waitresses in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median $28,380 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,501 take-home, or $2,042 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in La Crosse, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,228
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,760
- Medicare (1.45%)$412
- Wisconsin income tax$480
- Take-home pay$24,501
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.50% state
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro spans Wisconsin, Minnesota. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in La Crosse, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,280 | $7.83 | $14,960 | $1,247 |
| 25th percentile | $21,030 | $10.11 | $18,705 | $1,559 |
| Median (50th) | $28,380 | $13.64 | $24,501 | $2,042 |
| 75th percentile | $37,930 | $18.24 | $31,769 | $2,647 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,390 | $28.55 | $48,068 | $4,006 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,380 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 waiter and waitress's $24,501 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,698 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Waiter and Waitress jobs are about as common in La Crosse, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
La Crosse, WI ranks #248 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 248 | La Crosse, WI | $28,380 | $24,501 | $26,698 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Appleton, WI — $30,370
- Oshkosh, WI — $29,840
- Eau Claire, WI — $29,720
- Sheboygan, WI — $29,980
- Green Bay, WI — $29,610
- Madison, WI — $30,910
- Wausau, WI — $29,060
- Racine, WI — $30,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in La Crosse, WI?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $28,380 a year, or about $13.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,030 and $37,930.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in La Crosse, WI?
On the median $28,380 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $24,501 a year ($2,042 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $480 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is La Crosse, WI a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 8.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,698 would in a typical U.S. city. La Crosse, WI ranks #248 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 42% of a median waiter and waitress’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
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,900
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,280
- Bartender — $23,130