WI · La Crosse · Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist jobs in La Crosse, WI

Physical Therapists in the La Crosse area earn a median of $49.49 per hour, about $102,930 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $43.13 and $54.36. That ranks 91st of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 70th of 338 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.

Physical Therapist pay in La Crosse, WI

The metro median is 2% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $48.29 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 170 physical therapists employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.25).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$37.91$78,85022% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$43.13$89,71011% below U.S. median
Median$49.49$102,9302% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$54.36$113,07012% above U.S. median
Top 10%$55.55$115,54014% above U.S. median

How La Crosse ranks

  • 91st of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 70th of 338 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, Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), 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 $49.49 median hour buys what $53.93 buys at the national price level, 11% 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$1,782
  • Per year: $89,082
  • Per month: $7,424

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 physical therapist 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 Physical Therapist roles in Wisconsin

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

PermanentPosted 7 days ago

Physical Therapist

Mayo Clinic · Rice Lake, WI

$85k–$128k/ year
  • Req 101701810224
New this week
View role

All Physical Therapist 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 physical therapists.

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.

Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rochester, MN64 mi$45.35/hr123,624
Eau Claire, WI70 mi$47.37/hr72,331
Dubuque, IA95 mi$46.31/hr58,987
Madison, WI103 mi$48.81/hr285,300
Waterloo, IA108 mi$40.87/hr67,477
Woodbury, MN112 mi$47.54/hr80,596

Physical Therapist jobs in Wisconsin · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

DPT degree. 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 physical therapists make in La Crosse, WI?

Physical Therapists in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area have a median pay of $49.49 per hour, about $102,930 a year. The middle half earn between $43.13 and $54.36 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is La Crosse a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?

La Crosse-Onalaska ranks 70th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 91st of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do physical therapists 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 physical therapist?

DPT degree. 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 physical therapists 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 physical therapists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

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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 · PT near La Crosse, WI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Enhance Rehabilitation LLCKenosha, WI · 1 wage offer$53.00/ hr$53–$53
  • Hospital Sisters Health SystemGreen Bay, WI · 4 postings$47.14/ hr$38–$57
  • Powerback Rehabilitation, LLCAmery, WI · 1 wage offer$46.06/ hr$41–$51
  • Grandison Management, Inc.Fond Du Lac, WI · 1 wage offer$39.44/ hr$39–$39

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

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$47.14High$59

6 PT 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: 6 PT roles

  1. Physical TherapistPermanent
    $85k–$128k/ year
    Mayo Clinic · Rice Lake, WI · posted 7 days ago
  2. Physical Therapist - Prevea Outpatient - Green Bay AreaPermanent
    $37.71–$56.57/ hour
    Hospital Sisters Health System · Green Bay, WI · posted 21 days ago

+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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