How Much Does a CNA Make in La Crosse, WI in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in La Crosse, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Wisconsin.
BLS OES May 2025 · La Crosse · Onalaska metro area
A typical CNA in La Crosse, Wisconsin earns $20.92 per hour, or $43,510 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,626 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,530, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,220.
That pay is 4% below the Wisconsin figure of $45,130 and 3% above the national figure of $42,260. La Crosse ranks 11th of 14 metro areas in Wisconsin for CNA pay. About 1,250 CNAs work in the La Crosse · Onalaska area. La Crosse is part of the La Crosse · Onalaska metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Onalaska share these figures.
CNA pay in La Crosse at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.92 an hour, or $43,510 a year.
- That is 4% below the Wisconsin figure, ranking 11th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,530; the top 10% make over $47,220.
- Typical pay rose +56% from 2015 to 2025, against +68% for Wisconsin as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in La Crosse?
Pay in La Crosse runs from entry-level positions at around $18.04 an hour to more than $22.70 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Wisconsin and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in La Crosse
| Career stage | La Crosse | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,530$18.04 an hour | $37,900$18.22 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,620$18.57 an hour | $39,580$19.03 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $43,510$20.92 an hour | $45,130$21.70 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,750$22.00 an hour | $47,320$22.75 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,220$22.70 an hour | $50,650$24.35 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the La Crosse · Onalaska area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in La Crosse
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the La Crosse · Onalaska area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in La Crosse was $27,840 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,510, a change of +56%, compared with +68% for Wisconsin over the same years.
How La Crosse compares with other Wisconsin cities
St. Paul pays CNAs the most in Wisconsin at $48,020 a year, $4,510 more than La Crosse. The lowest-paying area in the state is Janesville at $39,730.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs La Crosse | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Paul metro incl. Bloomington | $48,020 | $23.09 | +10% | 14,590 |
| 2 | Sheboygan | $47,050 | $22.62 | +8% | 520 |
| 3 | Kenosha | $46,220 | $22.22 | +6% | 710 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant metro incl. Racine | $45,710 | $21.97 | +5% | 620 |
| 5 | Milwaukee metro incl. Waukesha | $45,690 | $21.97 | +5% | 7,880 |
| 6 | Madison | $45,260 | $21.76 | +4% | 3,420 |
| 7 | Appleton | $44,760 | $21.52 | +3% | 980 |
| 8 | Oshkosh metro incl. Neenah | $44,590 | $21.44 | +2% | 900 |
| 9 | Fond du Lac | $44,490 | $21.39 | +2% | 520 |
| 10 | Wausau | $43,660 | $20.99 | 0% | 710 |
| 11 | La Crosse metro incl. Onalaska | $43,510 | $20.92 | this city | 1,250 |
| 12 | Green Bay | $43,450 | $20.89 | 0% | 1,700 |
| 13 | Eau Claire | $43,150 | $20.75 | -1% | 1,100 |
| 14 | Beloit metro incl. Janesville | $39,730 | $19.10 | -9% | 710 |
Every metro area in Wisconsin with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin typical pay $45,130
Is La Crosse a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in La Crosse sits close to the national figure: $43,510 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the La Crosse · Onalaska area, about 15 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in La Crosse, WI?
- A typical CNA in La Crosse earns $43,510 a year, or $20.92 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,530 and the top 10% earn over $47,220.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in La Crosse?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in La Crosse is $20.92. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.04, and the top 10% earn over $22.70 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in La Crosse?
- Entry-level CNA positions in La Crosse typically offer around $18.04 an hour, or $37,530 a year.
- Is CNA pay in La Crosse higher than in the rest of Wisconsin?
- La Crosse pay is 4% below the Wisconsin figure of $45,130 a year, ranking 11th of 14 metro areas in the state. St. Paul pays the most in Wisconsin at $48,020.