SOC 39-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Animal Caretakers — La Crosse
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Animal Caretakers in La Crosse, WI is $28,780 per year, 18.6% below the national median of $35,360.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Animal Caretakers in La Crosse, WI is $28,780 per year, 18.6% below the national median of $35,360. Pay ranges from under $23,860 at the tenth percentile to more than $44,720 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $27,850 to $34,830.
The area has 230 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.8 of every thousand jobs. Madison leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $34,160. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 300th of 311 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,860 | −32.5% |
| 25th | $27,850 | −21.2% |
| Median (50th) | $28,780 | −18.6% |
| 75th | $34,830 | −1.5% |
| 90th | $44,720 | +26.5% |
| Mean | $31,950 | −9.6% |
Other metro areas in Wisconsin
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in La Crosse run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $28,780 goes as far as $30,584 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,584US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,780 a year, 18.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,860 to $44,720 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 230 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Madison, at $34,160.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Animal Caretakers in La Crosse, WI?
The median annual wage is $28,780, or $13.84 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,360, so pay in La Crosse, WI is 18.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in La Crosse, WI earns more than $44,720 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,860 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Madison, at $34,160 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 230 jobs in this occupation in La Crosse, WI. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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