SalaryExplorer

SOC 51-7042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingLa Crosse

La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN · 8 metro areas compared

$47,780 /year
$22.97per hour
70jobs in area
+10.1%vs US median

In La Crosse, WI the median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing is $47,780 a year, which is 10.1% higher than the national figure of $43,380.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $43,38010TH$38,27025TH$42,120MEDIAN$47,78075TH$54,17090TH$60,210

Salary overview

In La Crosse, WI the median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing is $47,780 a year, which is 10.1% higher than the national figure of $43,380. Half of workers earn between $42,120 and $54,170. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $38,270 and the ninetieth at $60,210.

The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.24 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Eau Claire leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $48,710. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 208th of 311 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$38,270−11.8%
25th$42,120−2.9%
Median (50th)$47,780+10.1%
75th$54,170+24.9%
90th$60,210+38.8%
Mean$47,890+10.4%

Other metro areas in Wisconsin

Median annual wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Eau Claire$48,71090
2Oshkosh$47,61050
3Green Bay$44,320250
4Wausau$43,640250
5Appleton$43,610110
6Milwaukee$42,360220
7Sheboygan$38,44030
8Madison$36,900130

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in La Crosse run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $47,780 goes as far as $50,776 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.0% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$47,780as reported by BLS

Local price level

94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$50,776US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $47,780 a year, 10.1% above the national median.
  • Published pay spans $38,270 to $60,210 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Eau Claire, at $48,710.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing in La Crosse, WI?

The median annual wage is $47,780, or $22.97 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 $43,380, so pay in La Crosse, WI is 10.1% higher. 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 $60,210 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $38,270 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 Eau Claire, at $48,710 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 70 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.

Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing Salary in La Crosse, WI (2025): $47,780 Median | Salary Explorer