Nurse Anesthetist Salary in La Crosse, WI: $237,173 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse anesthetist in La Crosse, WI earns a median $237,173/year (≈ $114.03/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1151). Once you factor in La Crosse's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $258,446 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 16.4% below the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In La Crosse, Wisconsin, nurse anesthetists can expect a median annual salary of $237,173 in 2026, reflecting local market conditions shaped by specific demands and lifestyle choices. The spectrum of earnings for this profession ranges from $168,499 at the 10th percentile to $302,660 at the 90th percentile, providing insight into the variability influenced by factors like call coverage requirements and shift differentials. These figures are drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and they underscore the competitive nature of anesthetist roles in the region. In La Crosse, the combination of a smaller job pool, comprising around 60 practitioners, alongside the dynamics of local healthcare facilities, contributes to the nuanced salary landscape for nurse anesthetists.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $168,499 | $81.01 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $237,173 | $114.03 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $237,173 | $114.03 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $289,847 | $139.35 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $302,660 | $145.51 |
Median Salary Position
4.71% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in La Crosse
In La Crosse, WI, the nurse anesthetist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $134,161 (2026 est.). At $237,173, the local median is 4.71% below the national median of $248,893.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in La Crosse: You'd be above the median
How La Crosse Nurse Anesthetist Pay Compares
La Crosse median: $237,173/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | La Crosse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $283,700 | -16.40% less |
| National Average | $248,893 | -4.71% less |
Nurse Anesthetists in La Crosse, WI earn a median of $237,173 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.71% lower than the national median of $248,893 and 16.40% below the Wisconsin state average of $283,700.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
La Crosse has a cost of living 8.23% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
La Crosse, WI has a cost-of-living index of 91.769 (below the national average of 100). A nurse anesthetist earning $237,173 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $258,446 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.97% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$166,560
2025 BLS Actual
$225,450
2026 Current Est.
$237,173
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Anesthetists in La Crosse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $166,560 | Actual |
| 2020 | $174,936 | Actual |
| 2021 | $186,400 | Actual |
| 2022 | $221,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $202,637 | Actual |
| 2024 | $203,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $225,450 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $237,173 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $249,506 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the La Crosse metropolitan area, the median nurse anesthetist salary grew 35.4% from $166,560 (2019) to $225,450 (2025). At a 5.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $249,506 by 2027 — a total increase of $82,946 (49.80%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the La Crosse metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $168,499 – $237,173 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $237,173 – $237,173 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $237,173 – $289,847 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $289,847 – $302,660 |
CRNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse anesthetist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Anesthetist Job Market in La Crosse
The local job market for nurse anesthetists in La Crosse is marked by a cost-of-living index of 91.769, suggesting that while salaries may be lower than the national average, the purchasing power remains favorable. Among the employers, hospital systems typically offer competitive pay structures compared to ambulatory surgery centers and CRNA-owned group practices. Differences in compensation often stem from call coverage rotations, with those on a more demanding schedule receiving higher pay, as well as from the productivity bonuses tied to operating room efficiency and weekend differentials. Strategies to optimize earnings include seeking placements with facilities that offer partnership tracks and negotiating pay structures that consider individual work schedules and responsibilities. Understanding these elements can aid nurse anesthetists in maximizing their overall compensation in La Crosse, WI.
More salary data for La Crosse, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nurse anesthetists make in La Crosse, WI in 2026?
Is La Crosse, WI a good place to work as a nurse anesthetist?
Can nurse anesthetists make $100K in La Crosse?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted nurse anesthetist salary in La Crosse?
How much does a nurse anesthetist make per hour in La Crosse?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Wisconsin
Written by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA
Career Analyst
Alexandra Johnson has 10 years of experience as a nurse anesthetist. She specializes in anesthesia for orthopedic surgeries. She works in a regional medical center.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $225,450 for nurse anesthetistsin the La Crosse metropolitan area. A 5.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 3-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse anesthetists (SOC 29-1151).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Johnson, MSN, CRNA, a licensed nurse anesthetist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov