Firefighters pay range in La Crosse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,930 or more. The middle half of firefighters in La Crosse earn between $32,720 and $59,060.
- $27K10th
- $33K25th
- $39KMedian
- $59K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,990 | $3,749 | $21.63 |
| Median | $38,900 | $3,242 | $18.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,720 | $2,727 | $15.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,060 | $4,922 | $28.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in La Crosse vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Firefighters in La Crosse earn 11% less than the Wisconsin average ($50,710) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | $44,990 | $38,900 | $26,970 | $60,930 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $50,710 | $46,850 | $29,390 | $77,050 | 8,120 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in La Crosse
On the average salary of $44,990, a single filer in La Crosse takes home about $37,000 a year, or $3,083 a month and $1,423 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $37,000 | $3,083 |
| Working in MN | $36,741 | $3,062 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is La Crosse a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the La Crosse area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $44,990 buys what about $49,025 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in La Crosse ($48,260). A typical home costs $335,330, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Wisconsin cities
La Crosse ranks 11th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Sheboygan pays the most ($59,450).
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in La Crosse: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in La Crosse?
$21.63 an hour on average, and $18.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in La Crosse?
About $37,000 a year ($3,083 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,990.
Do firefighters earn more in La Crosse than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (29100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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