Accountant salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
La Crosse-Onalaska is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $76,680 a year1 is 3.4% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $79,400, and 8.4% below the US median of $83,680. Among US areas it comes in at #257 of 521. About 630 accountants work here.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in La Crosse-Onalaska against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $54,480 | $76,680 | $120,130 | |
| Wisconsin | $58,340 | $79,400 | $127,800 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in La Crosse-Onalaska earns $61,930–$94,100. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $120,130, only 2.2 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $32,170 wide, against $35,800 across Wisconsin and $42,790 nationally: employers in La Crosse-Onalaska pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,480 | $4,540 | $26.19 | $70,297 |
| 25th percentile | $61,930 | $5,161 | $29.77 | $79,910 |
| Median | $76,680 | $6,390 | $36.87 | $98,942 |
| 75th percentile | $94,100 | $7,842 | $45.24 | $121,419 |
| 90th percentile | $120,130 | $10,011 | $57.75 | $155,006 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $17,420 a year in pay and about $22,477 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $14,750 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in La Crosse-Onalaska, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $79,400 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in La Crosse-Onalaska
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $22,262 to the $76,680 median and brings it to $98,942 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in La Crosse-Onalaska
Of the 17 roles we track in La Crosse-Onalaska, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($94,990); office managers come next at $66,420.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +23.9% | 480 | |
| Accountant | this role | 630 | |
| Office Manager | -13.4% | 540 | |
| Recruiter | -14.7% | 390 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.2% | 130 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in La Crosse-Onalaska (-8.4%), between project coordinators (-7.2%) and sales development representatives (-12.2%). The typical role here is at -3.6%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost less in La Crosse-Onalaska than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 8.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in La Crosse-Onalaska, 8.9% across Wisconsin and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $74,210 in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area to $81,130 in Madison, a gap of $6,920 a year. Of the 9 areas in Wisconsin with more accountants than La Crosse-Onalaska, 2 pay less: the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area ($75,590) and Eau Claire, WI ($76,380).
| Area | Median | vs La Crosse-Onalaska | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +0.9% | 1,310 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | +0.5% | 500 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | +0.2% | 330 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | this area | 630 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | -0.4% | 670 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -1.4% | 1,210 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -3.2% | 280 |
La Crosse-Onalaska against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, La Crosse-Onalaska is #301 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Chattanooga and Beaumont-Port Arthur pay just above La Crosse-Onalaska and Mankato and Bloomington just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in La Crosse-Onalaska. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs La Crosse-Onalaska | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | +0.2% | 640 | jobs | |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | +0.0% | 840 | pay | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | +0.0% | 1,940 | pay | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | this area | 630 | ||
| Mankato, MN | -0.0% | 400 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IN | -0.1% | 480 | pay | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | -2.4% | 640 | jobs | |
| Santa Fe, NM | -5.1% | 620 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About $98,942 a year at the median, or $8,245 a month: $76,680 in pay plus about $22,262 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in La Crosse-Onalaska?
The median was $76,680 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $54,480, the 90th $120,130, and the middle half earned $61,930 to $94,100.
Is La Crosse-Onalaska cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $76,680 against $79,400 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is Fond du Lac at $76,860, the next down Eau Claire at $76,380.
How many accountants work in La Crosse-Onalaska?
BLS counts about 630 in the May 2025 survey. 9 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is Eau Claire, with about 670.
Does an accountant cost more than an office manager in La Crosse-Onalaska?
Yes: $10,260 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,680 and $66,420.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.