Mechanical Engineer salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Mechanical Engineers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $102,280 a year ($49.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,920 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $104,110. Pay here is 7% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $95,870. There are 2.3 mechanical engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $107,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for mechanical engineers in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| 25th percentile | $85,840 | $41.27 |
| Median | $102,280 | $49.17 |
| 75th percentile | $127,360 | $61.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,920 | $61.50 |
| Average (mean) | $107,390 | $51.63 |
Half of mechanical engineers 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 | $8,523.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,261.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,933.85 |
| Weekly | $1,966.92 |
| Hourly | $49.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Mechanical Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MN | $101,350 | 80 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $101,180 | 4,450 |
| Madison, WI | $99,680 | 770 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $98,730 | 2,200 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $98,450 | 250 |
| Rochester, MN | $97,100 | 120 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $95,410 | 210 |
| Green Bay, WI | $94,450 | 460 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $93,550 | 150 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $93,310 | 290 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $91,430 | 90 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $90,670 | 120 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $90,490 | 230 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $86,330 | 290 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $85,740 | 190 |
| Appleton, WI | $85,260 | 460 |
| Kenosha, WI | $84,780 | 140 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $82,800 | 330 |
| Wausau, WI | $79,340 | 240 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $78,360 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for mechanical engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $157,710 |
| District of Columbia | $133,300 |
| California | $130,900 |
| Delaware | $125,130 |
| Colorado | $124,430 |
| Alaska | $124,340 |
| Maryland | $122,870 |
| Louisiana | $119,540 |
| Massachusetts | $119,300 |
| Wyoming | $117,750 |
See Mechanical Engineer pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $98,740 | $47.47 |
| Civil Engineer | $95,870 | $46.09 |
| Electrical Engineer | $106,640 | $51.27 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $64,350 | $30.94 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $94,160 | $45.27 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $85,540 | $41.13 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $62,550 | $30.07 |
More: Architecture and Engineering 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 17-2141. 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 mechanical engineer make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for mechanical engineers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $102,280 a year, or $49.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $127,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid mechanical engineers make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of mechanical engineers in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $127,920 a year. The top 25% earn $127,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for mechanical engineers in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,980 a year, and a quarter of mechanical engineers earn $85,840 or less.
How many mechanical engineers work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 190 mechanical engineers are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.