Registered Nurse Salary in La Crosse, WI: $103,593 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in La Crosse, WI earns a median $103,593/year (≈ $49.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in La Crosse's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $112,885 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.3% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Registered nurses in La Crosse, Wisconsin, can anticipate a median annual salary of $103,593 in 2026, which is slightly above the national median of $102,730. With a salary range extending from $84,058 at the lower end (P10) to $126,604 at the high end (P90), this reflects a dynamic job market influenced by several factors, including shift differentials. Evening and weekend shifts often bring an additional compensation of $3 to $7 per hour, allowing RNs to increase their effective pay significantly. This data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, illustrates a more competitive landscape for nursing roles in the area, particularly within hospitals and specialty centers known for their commitment to quality patient care and supporting their nursing staff.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $84,058 | $40.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $84,058 | $40.41 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $103,593 | $49.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,616 | $51.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $126,604 | $60.87 |
Median Salary Position
0.84% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in La Crosse
In La Crosse, WI, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $42,546 (2026 est.). At $103,593, the local median is 0.84% above the national median of $102,730.
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At 40 hours/week in La Crosse: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How La Crosse Registered Nurse Pay Compares
La Crosse median: $103,593/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | La Crosse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $93,920 | +10.30% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | +0.84% more |
Registered Nurses in La Crosse, WI earn a median of $103,593 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.84% higher than the national median of $102,730 and 10.30% above the Wisconsin state average of $93,920.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
La Crosse has a cost of living 8.23% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
La Crosse, WI has a cost-of-living index of 91.769 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $103,593 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $112,885 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.97% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$72,460
2025 BLS Actual
$98,370
2026 Current Est.
$103,593
2019–2027 Growth
+50.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in La Crosse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $72,460 | Actual |
| 2020 | $74,680 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,000 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,720 | Actual |
| 2023 | $86,793 | Actual |
| 2024 | $95,800 | Actual |
| 2025 | $98,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $103,593 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,094 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the La Crosse metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 35.8% from $72,460 (2019) to $98,370 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,094 by 2027 — a total increase of $36,634 (50.56%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the La Crosse metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $84,058 – $84,058 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $84,058 – $103,593 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $103,593 – $107,616 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,616 – $126,604 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in La Crosse
The La Crosse region employs about 2,920 registered nurses, making it a robust market for nursing professionals. The local cost-of-living index stands at 91.769, meaning nurses can enjoy a better purchasing power relative to some other metropolitan areas in Wisconsin and beyond. In this competitive environment, hospitals, particularly those with magnet status, typically offer the highest salaries, especially in critical areas like Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and Emergency Departments (EDs). Factors influencing the pay variation include specialized certification stipends that add to base pay, and the strategic choice to take roles with higher shift differentials. RNs seeking to maximize their earnings should consider obtaining specialty certifications from organizations like the AACN or ENA, which can lead to better pay and opportunities for advancement in La Crosse’s evolving healthcare landscape.
More salary data for La Crosse, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $98,370 for registered nursesin the La Crosse metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov