PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Registered Nurse - Adult Medical Specialties and Pediatrics - RN
Mayo Clinic · La Crosse, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
Registered Nurse jobs in La Crosse, WI
The median registered nurse pay in the La Crosse area is $46.06 per hour ($95,800 a year), with the typical range running from $41.82 to $53.68. That ranks 90th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 40th of 335 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.
- $46.06median pay per hour, La Crosse
- $42–$54typical range per hour
- 2,780registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 92cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Registered Nurse roles in La Crosse
1 more open role from employers in La Crosse. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Registered Nurse pay in La Crosse, WI
The metro median is 11% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $41.38 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 2,780 registered nurses employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area, 33.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.57).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $37.96 | $78,960 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $41.82 | $86,990 | 7% below U.S. median |
| Median | $46.06 | $95,800 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $53.68 | $111,650 | 19% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $53.68 | $111,650 | 19% above U.S. median |
How La Crosse ranks
- 90th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 40th of 335 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, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Get the La Crosse Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near La Crosse, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat 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 $46.06 median hour buys what $50.19 buys at the national price level, 12% 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.
Estimate your La Crosse paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,658
- Per year: $82,908
- Per month: $6,909
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
| Item | Federal 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 registered nurse 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 Registered Nurse roles in Wisconsin
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in La Crosse as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Float Pool RN (Night Shift)
Veterans Health Administration · Madison, WI
$86k–$149k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health
Veterans Health Administration · Madison, WI
$72k–$152k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
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PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse Weekender, Surgical Peds Unit, Night Shift
Mercy · Wisconsin
$42.00–$63.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse, Ortho/Neuro Unit - Weekender Nights
Mercy · Wisconsin
$42.00–$63.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Middleton, WI
$71k–$141k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse (RN)-Medical/Cardiac/Neuro
Hospital Sisters Health System · Green Bay, WI
$36.50–$55.50/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
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 registered nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc La Crosse, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center La Crosse, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
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.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | 64 mi | $49.32/hr | 123,624 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 70 mi | $39.14/hr | 72,331 |
| Dubuque, IA | 95 mi | $34.01/hr | 58,987 |
| Madison, WI | 103 mi | $43.26/hr | 285,300 |
| Waterloo, IA | 108 mi | $33.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Woodbury, MN | 112 mi | $49.16/hr | 80,596 |
Registered Nurse jobs in Wisconsin · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Wisconsin license by endorsement.
Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in La Crosse
La Crosse city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in La Crosse, WI?
Registered Nurses in the La Crosse-Onalaska metro area have a median pay of $46.06 per hour, about $95,800 a year. The middle half earn between $41.82 and $53.68 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is La Crosse a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
La Crosse-Onalaska ranks 40th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 90th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Where do registered nurses 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 registered nurse?
Wisconsin is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Wisconsin license by endorsement. 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 registered nurses 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 registered nurses? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportLa Crosse, WI · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Essentia HealthSuperior, WI · 2 postings$56.95/ hr$45–$69
- Veterans Health AdministrationMilwaukee, WI · 13 postings$52.90/ hr$34–$74
- Select MedicalMadison, WI · 3 postings$51.43/ hr$34–$60
- Hospital Sisters Health SystemGreen Bay, WI · 50 postings$46.00/ hr$31–$56
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$34Median$45.50High$56
147 RN postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 118 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 147 RN roles
- Float Pool RN (Night Shift)Permanent$86k–$149k/ year
- Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental HealthPermanent$72k–$152k/ year
+ 145 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.