Machinist salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Machinists in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $62,960 a year ($30.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,440 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 7% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $59,110. There are 2.0 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,430, close to the median.
Pay range for machinists in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| 25th percentile | $48,550 | $23.34 |
| Median | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| 75th percentile | $76,950 | $37.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,440 | $38.67 |
| Average (mean) | $62,430 | $30.02 |
Half of machinists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,246.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,623.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,421.54 |
| Weekly | $1,210.77 |
| Hourly | $30.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Machinist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $69,440 | 330 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | 460 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $62,070 | 9,420 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $61,820 | 130 |
| Mankato, MN | $61,120 | 160 |
| Madison, WI | $60,830 | 700 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $60,580 | 220 |
| Appleton, WI | $60,350 | 660 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $60,320 | 4,230 |
| Green Bay, WI | $60,270 | 660 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $60,070 | 340 |
| Kenosha, WI | $59,800 | 230 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $57,890 | 100 |
| Rochester, MN | $57,770 | 270 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $57,720 | 450 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $57,700 | 550 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $55,130 | 560 |
| Wausau, WI | $53,680 | 360 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $52,000 | 160 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $46,810 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for machinists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| Oregon | $63,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 |
| Vermont | $62,680 |
| Delaware | $62,650 |
See Machinist pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $65,230 | $31.36 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,110 | $34.19 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Printing Press Operator | $45,480 | $21.87 |
| Baker | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,190 | $18.36 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for machinists in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $62,960 a year, or $30.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of machinists in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $80,440 a year. The top 25% earn $76,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,080 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $48,550 or less.
How many machinists work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 170 machinists are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.