Dental Salaries in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Dentist: a median of $201,810 a year ($97.02 an hour). That is $8,120 above the Wisconsin dentist median of $193,690 and $30,860 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 8th of the 12 Wisconsin metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $95,950 a year ($46.13 an hour). That is $590 below the Wisconsin dental hygienist median of $96,540 and $2,150 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 7th of the 13 Wisconsin metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,180 a year ($22.68 an hour). That is $340 below the Wisconsin dental assistant median of $47,520 and $890 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 8th of the 13 Wisconsin metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of La Crosse dentists earn $155,190 to $274,180. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $129,380 (against $121,780 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $287,690 (against $306,370 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $158,310.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of La Crosse dental hygienists earn $91,520 to $97,920. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $80,840 (against $80,370 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $99,990 (against $110,240 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,150.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of La Crosse dental assistants earn $45,360 to $55,630. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,700 (against $39,500 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $58,390 (against $58,840 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $17,690.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the La Crosse metro's 2024 price level at 91.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.2% below the national average, and housing costs (index 69.4) run 30.6% below. Wisconsin as a whole sits at 94.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $201,810 here buys about what $219,910 buys at national average prices — $48,960 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $95,950 here buys about what $104,560 buys at national average prices — $6,460 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $47,180 here buys about what $51,410 buys at national average prices — $3,340 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 80 jobs in the metro, or 0.919 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 15% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.15).

Dental Hygienists: about 150 jobs in the metro, or 1.759 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 23% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.23).

Dental Assistants: about 230 jobs in the metro, or 2.684 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 8% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.08).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dentist: Eau Claire (86 mi) pays $209,750, Madison (87 mi) pays $176,460 and Wausau (107 mi) pays $202,250. La Crosse's $201,810 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Eau Claire (86 mi) pays $86,830, Madison (87 mi) pays $100,340 and Wausau (107 mi) pays $87,470. La Crosse's $95,950 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Eau Claire (86 mi) pays $46,850, Madison (87 mi) pays $49,930 and Wausau (107 mi) pays $46,740. La Crosse's $47,180 is below 1 of the 3.