Photographers pay range in La Crosse
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,990 or more. The middle half of photographers in La Crosse earn between $37,490 and $77,780.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $47KMedian
- $78K75th
- $92K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,150 | $4,512 | $26.03 |
| Median | $47,300 | $3,942 | $22.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,490 | $3,124 | $18.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,780 | $6,482 | $37.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Photographers salary after taxes in La Crosse
On the average salary of $54,150, a single filer in La Crosse takes home about $43,908 a year, or $3,659 a month and $1,689 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WI | $43,908 | $3,659 |
| Working in MN | $43,531 | $3,628 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is La Crosse a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the La Crosse area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.8), so the average $54,150 buys what about $59,007 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in La Crosse ($48,260). A typical home costs $335,330, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Wisconsin cities
La Crosse ranks 1st of 4 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for photographers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($83,790).
- San Francisco, CA$83,790
- San Jose, CA$75,490
- Los Angeles, CA$73,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$72,250
- Santa Maria, CA$72,200
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Photographers salary in La Crosse: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in La Crosse?
$26.03 an hour on average, and $22.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in La Crosse?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in La Crosse?
About $43,908 a year ($3,659 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,150.
Do photographers earn more in La Crosse than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($56,592).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4021; area La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN (29100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.