Optometrist salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Optometrists in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $175,810 a year ($84.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $110,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $224,140 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $136,570. Pay here is 26% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $139,720. There are 0.47 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $168,910, close to the median.
Pay range for optometrists in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $110,530 | $53.14 |
| 25th percentile | $131,040 | $63.00 |
| Median | $175,810 | $84.52 |
| 75th percentile | $196,980 | $94.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $224,140 | $107.76 |
| Average (mean) | $168,910 | $81.21 |
Half of optometrists 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 | $14,650.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,325.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,761.92 |
| Weekly | $3,380.96 |
| Hourly | $84.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $159,790 | 470 |
| Appleton, WI | $150,060 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $144,840 | 40 |
| Wausau, WI | $142,690 | 30 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $132,690 | 40 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $132,130 | 210 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $131,960 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $128,220 | 100 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $124,470 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for optometrists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 |
| Maryland | $165,840 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 |
| Delaware | $161,270 |
| New York | $161,140 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 |
| Washington | $157,560 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 |
| Maine | $154,110 |
See Optometrist pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $98,370 | $47.29 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $125,390 | $60.29 |
| Pharmacist | $159,020 | $76.45 |
| Physical Therapist | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Dental Hygienist | $95,950 | $46.13 |
| Occupational Therapist | $82,560 | $39.69 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $79,300 | $38.12 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $327,890 | $157.64 |
| Dentists, General | $201,810 | $97.02 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $225,450 | $108.39 |
| Chiropractor | $83,510 | $40.15 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $68,380 | $32.87 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $239,200+ | $115.00+ |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | $239,200+ | $115.00+ |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 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 29-1041. 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 optometrist make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for optometrists in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $175,810 a year, or $84.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $110,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $224,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of optometrists in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $224,140 a year. The top 25% earn $196,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $110,530 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $131,040 or less.
How many optometrists work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 40 optometrists are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.