WI · La Crosse · Updated October 15, 2026

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in La Crosse, WI

Pay for medical laboratory scientists in the La Crosse area centers on $24.40 per hour, or about $50,750 a year. The lower quarter earns under $19.38 and the upper quarter over $32.48. That ranks 266th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 235th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in La Crosse. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near La Crosse.

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in La Crosse, WI

The metro median is 20% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $30.45 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 250 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.33).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$19.38$40,31035% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$19.38$40,31035% below U.S. median
Median$24.40$50,75018% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$32.48$67,5609% above U.S. median
Top 10%$40.69$84,64037% above U.S. median

How La Crosse ranks

  • 266th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 235th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
  • 12th of 12 Wisconsin metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for medical laboratory scientist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2010), 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 $24.40 median hour buys what $26.59 buys at the national price level, 11% below 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$878
  • Per year: $43,920
  • Per month: $3,660

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 laboratory scientist 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 Laboratory Scientist roles in Wisconsin

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

All Medical Laboratory Scientist 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 laboratory scientists.

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.

Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rochester, MN64 mi$35.98/hr123,624
Eau Claire, WI70 mi$30.25/hr72,331
Dubuque, IA95 mi$28.09/hr58,987
Madison, WI103 mi$30.79/hr285,300
Waterloo, IA108 mi$21.89/hr67,477
Woodbury, MN112 mi$31.81/hr80,596

Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Wisconsin · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. 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 laboratory scientists make in La Crosse, WI?

Medical Laboratory Scientists in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area have a median pay of $24.40 per hour, about $50,750 a year. The middle half earn between $19.38 and $32.48 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

La Crosse-Onalaska ranks 235th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 266th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do medical laboratory scientists 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 laboratory scientist?

Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. 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.

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 laboratory scientists 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 laboratory scientists? Get the report.

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

Your Lab Scientist pay reportLa Crosse, WI · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Mayo ClinicEau Claire, WI · 2 wage offers$46.19/ hr$46–$47
  • MercyWisconsin · 2 postings$40.78/ hr$29–$54
  • Hospital Sisters Health SystemGreen Bay, WI · 3 postings$30.39/ hr$24–$44
  • Labcorp Early Development Laboratories Inc.Madison, WI · 2 wage offers$24.47/ hr$24–$26

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$24Median$36.76High$49

5 Lab Scientist postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 5 Lab Scientist roles

  1. Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)/Medical Laboratory Technician(MLT)Permanent
    $29.55–$44.32/ hour
    Hospital Sisters Health System · Sheboygan, WI · posted yesterday
  2. Medical laboratory Scientist(MLS)/Medical Laboratory Technician(MLT)Permanent
    $24.31–$36.47/ hour
    Hospital Sisters Health System · Green Bay, WI · posted 6 days ago

+ 3 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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