WI · La Crosse · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in La Crosse, WI

Physician Assistants in Wisconsin earn a median of $63.86 per hour, about $132,820 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $60.13 and $67.51. That is in line with the U.S. median of $64.07 per hour. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in La Crosse. Tell us your role and we email current openings near La Crosse.

Physician Assistant pay in La Crosse, WI

Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 3,040 physician assistants employed in Wisconsin.

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$51.52$107,16020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$60.13$125,0706% below U.S. median
Median$63.86$132,820in line with U.S. median
Upper quartile$67.51$140,4205% above U.S. median
Top 10%$78.54$163,36023% above U.S. median

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), 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).

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$2,299
  • Per year: $114,948
  • Per month: $9,579

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for Wisconsin. 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 physician 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 Physician Assistant roles in Wisconsin

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

All Physician 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 physician 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.

Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rochester, MN64 mi$63.94/hr123,624
Eau Claire, WI70 mi$62.04/hr72,331
Dubuque, IA95 mi$60.20/hr58,987
Madison, WI103 mi$65.86/hr285,300
Waterloo, IA108 mi$59.77/hr67,477
Woodbury, MN112 mi$67.60/hr80,596

Physician Assistant jobs in Wisconsin · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. 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 physician assistants make in La Crosse, WI?

Physician Assistants in Wisconsin have a median pay of $63.86 per hour, about $132,820 a year. The middle half earn between $60.13 and $67.51 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Where do physician 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 physician assistant?

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. 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 physician 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 physician assistants? Get the report.

Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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

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    What they are offering now

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

Your PA pay reportLa Crosse, WI · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Advocate HealthGreenfield, WI · 3 postings$68.62/ hr$55–$88
  • Veterans Health AdministrationMilwaukee, WI · 2 postings$66.46/ hr$49–$84
  • MercyWisconsin · 2 postings$55.35/ hr$41–$70

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$43Median$67.87High$87

8 PA postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 8 PA roles

  1. .88 FTE Physician Assistant or Family Nurse Practitioner- Emergency Medicine - St. Lukes, W. Allis, S. ShorePermanent
    $59.00–$88.50/ hour
    Advocate Health · Wisconsin · posted today
  2. Physician Assistant - Surgical CarePermanent
    $105k–$175k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI · posted yesterday

+ 6 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
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