Cost of hiring in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
BLS counts about 7,310 people in these 17 roles in La Crosse-Onalaska1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($94,990 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($40,640), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 1,200 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in La Crosse-Onalaska
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +10.7% | 40 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +6.9% | 780 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +4.9% | 30 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +3.4% | 370 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +2.3% | 1,200 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +2.1% | 80 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -0.9% | 790 | |
| Bookkeeper | -3.4% | 720 | |
| HR Assistant | -3.6% | 40 | |
| Office Manager | -4.4% | 540 | |
| Project Coordinator | -7.2% | 480 | |
| Accountant | -8.4% | 630 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -12.2% | 620 | |
| Recruiter | -13.9% | 390 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.1% | 130 | |
| Paralegal | -20.9% | 100 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.4% | 370 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $45,820 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $59,123 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
La Crosse-Onalaska against the US
La Crosse-Onalaska pays above the US median for 6 of the 17 roles, most of all for data entry specialists (+10.7%) and virtual receptionists (+6.9%), and below it for 10, furthest for marketing specialists (-21.4%). For administrative assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is -3.6%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #40 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for paralegals, #366 of 506.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, La Crosse-Onalaska has more virtual receptionists (10.7% of these jobs here, against 5.7% nationally), and fewer paralegals (1.4% against 2.5%) and executive assistants (1.8% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Cleveland, OH is nearest, at -3.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -3.3% | 17 | 133,260 |
| Minot, ND | -3.5% | 12 | 2,360 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | -3.6% (this area) | 17 | 7,310 |
| Cleveland, OH | -3.7% | 17 | 101,810 |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | -3.7% | 17 | 349,890 |
| Ogden, UT | -3.8% | 16 | 22,220 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in La Crosse-Onalaska span $38,010–$118,030, the widest band (3.1×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $38,700–$57,360. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 16 of 17 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, marketing specialists and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($71,060 against a $61,430 median for sales development representatives).
La Crosse-Onalaska against Wisconsin
Against Wisconsin as a whole, La Crosse-Onalaska pays more for 2 of 17 roles, led by data entry specialists (+19.9%) and e-commerce order specialists (+1.5%), and less for 13, most of all paralegals (-15.0%). It has the highest median in Wisconsin for data entry specialists.
Other areas in Wisconsin
By jobs in these roles, La Crosse-Onalaska is #10 of 17 areas in Wisconsin. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area to Sheboygan.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | 14,740 | 17 |
| Appleton, WI | 12,090 | 17 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 9,050 | 16 |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | 8,730 | 17 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 7,720 | 16 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 6,260 | 16 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 6,200 | 17 |
| Kenosha, WI | 6,200 | 16 |
| Wausau, WI | 5,900 | 15 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 4,530 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in La Crosse-Onalaska?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $94,990 a year, about $122,568 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $40,640.
Is hiring in La Crosse-Onalaska cheaper than the US median?
For 10 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-21.4%). 6 pay more than the US median, led by data entry specialists (+10.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.