WI · La Crosse · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Assistant jobs in La Crosse, WI

Pay for medical assistants in the La Crosse area centers on $23.91 per hour, or about $49,720 a year. The lower quarter earns under $20.62 and the upper quarter over $25.94. That ranks 16th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 5th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in La Crosse. The free report below lists employers near La Crosse and what they pay.

Medical Assistant pay in La Crosse, WI

The metro median is 4% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $22.89 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 500 medical assistants employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area, 6.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.17).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.68$38,85012% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$20.62$42,8903% below U.S. median
Median$23.91$49,72013% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$25.94$53,96022% above U.S. median
Top 10%$25.94$53,96022% above U.S. median

How La Crosse ranks

  • 16th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 5th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 12 Wisconsin metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in La Crosse

  • Overall prices in La Crosse-Onalaska run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $23.91 median hour buys what $26.05 buys at the national price level, 23% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Named employers near La Crosse, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your La Crosse paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$861
  • Per year: $43,038
  • Per month: $3,586

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in La Crosse

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel medical assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Medical Assistant roles in Wisconsin

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in La Crosse as they open.

All Medical Assistant jobs in Wisconsin

Hospitals in La Crosse

CMS lists 2 hospitals in La Crosse, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc
La Crosse, WI
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center
La Crosse, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in La Crosse County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include La Crosse County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 12 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rochester, MN64 mi$23.55/hr123,624
Eau Claire, WI70 mi$22.85/hr72,331
Dubuque, IA95 mi$20.23/hr58,987
Madison, WI103 mi$23.15/hr285,300
Waterloo, IA108 mi$21.56/hr67,477
Woodbury, MN112 mi$24.12/hr80,596

Medical Assistant jobs in Wisconsin · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in La Crosse

La Crosse city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do medical assistants make in La Crosse, WI?

Medical Assistants in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area have a median pay of $23.91 per hour, about $49,720 a year. The middle half earn between $20.62 and $25.94 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is La Crosse a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?

La Crosse-Onalaska ranks 5th of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 16th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical assistants work in La Crosse?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in La Crosse, led by Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in La Crosse as a medical assistant?

Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is La Crosse in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include La Crosse County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in La Crosse?

The federal per diem benchmark in La Crosse is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in La Crosse?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in La Crosse and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near La Crosse.

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What do employers near La Crosse pay medical assistants? Get the report.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Medical Assistant near La Crosse, WI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Wisconsin list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Advocate HealthMilwaukee, WI · 21 postings$28.10/ hr$22–$36
  • MercyWisconsin · 14 postings$23.48/ hr$18–$29
  • Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
  • CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Wisconsin list

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$27.32High$34

37 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 35 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 37 Medical Assistant roles

  1. Medical Assistant or LPN - Specialties Float PoolPermanent
    $21.85–$32.80/ hour
    Advocate Health · Wisconsin · posted today
  2. Full-Time Medical Assistant Medical Group Aurora Union GrovePermanent
    $21.85–$32.80/ hour
    Advocate Health · Union Grove, WI · posted today

+ 35 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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