Food Preparation Workers pay range in La Crosse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,640 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in La Crosse earn between $28,320 and $37,540.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $35KMedian
- $38K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,540 | $2,795 | $16.12 |
| Median | $34,900 | $2,908 | $16.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,320 | $2,360 | $13.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,540 | $3,128 | $18.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in La Crosse vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in La Crosse earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($34,000) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse | $33,540 | $34,900 | $24,190 | $43,640 | 660 |
| Wisconsin | $34,000 | $34,070 | $26,080 | $44,290 | 17,990 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in La Crosse
On the average salary of $33,540, a single filer in La Crosse takes home about $28,364 a year, or $2,364 a month and $1,091 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 | $28,364 | $2,364 |
| Working in MN | $28,154 | $2,346 |
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 food preparation workers? 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 $33,540 buys what about $36,548 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in La Crosse ($48,260). A typical home costs $335,330, or 10.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Wisconsin cities
La Crosse ranks 5th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($36,760).
- Madison$36,760
- Milwaukee$35,080
- Kenosha$34,480
- Appleton$33,740
- La Crosse$33,540
- Oshkosh$33,500
- Sheboygan$33,280
- Eau Claire$33,190
- Janesville$32,770
- Wausau$32,570
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in La Crosse: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in La Crosse?
$16.13 an hour on average, and $16.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in La Crosse?
About $28,364 a year ($2,364 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,540.
Do food preparation workers earn more in La Crosse than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (29100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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