Construction Manager Salary in La Crosse, WI: $125,076 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time construction manager in La Crosse, WI earns a median $125,076/year (≈ $60.13/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 11-9021). Once you factor in La Crosse's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $136,294 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, construction managers in La Crosse, Wisconsin, can expect a median annual salary of $125,076, a figure that reflects the area's increasing involvement in large-scale projects such as data centers, semiconductor fabrication plants, and electric vehicle battery factories. The salary range for this role spans from $77,182 at the 10th percentile to a robust $189,124 at the 90th percentile, based on projections derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data. With this compensation, La Crosse's construction manager pay is estimated to exceed the national median of $118,923 by approximately 5.17%, highlighting a strong local market for professionals in this field. The growth rate of 3.42% annually suggests sustained demand for experienced construction managers as the region continues to expand its industrial footprint.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $77,182 | $37.11 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $102,334 | $49.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $125,076 | $60.13 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $167,209 | $80.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $189,124 | $90.93 |
Median Salary Position
5.17% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in La Crosse
In La Crosse, WI, the construction manager salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $111,942 (2026 est.). At $125,076, the local median is 5.17% above the national median of $118,923.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in La Crosse: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How La Crosse Construction Manager Pay Compares
La Crosse median: $125,076/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | La Crosse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $123,228 | +1.50% more |
| National Average | $118,923 | +5.17% more |
Construction Managers in La Crosse, WI earn a median of $125,076 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.17% higher than the national median of $118,923 and 1.50% above the Wisconsin state average of $123,228.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
La Crosse has a cost of living 8.23% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
La Crosse, WI has a cost-of-living index of 91.769 (below the national average of 100). A construction manager earning $125,076 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $136,294 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.97% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$101,170
2025 BLS Actual
$120,940
2026 Current Est.
$125,076
2019–2027 Growth
+27.9%
Salary Trajectory for Construction Managers in La Crosse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.42% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $101,170 | Actual |
| 2020 | $99,430 | Actual |
| 2021 | $95,480 | Actual |
| 2022 | $99,200 | Actual |
| 2023 | $107,950 | Actual |
| 2024 | $122,870 | Actual |
| 2025 | $120,940 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $125,076 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $129,354 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the La Crosse metropolitan area, the median construction manager salary grew 19.5% from $101,170 (2019) to $120,940 (2025). At a 3.42% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $129,354 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,184 (27.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the La Crosse metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.42% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $77,182 – $102,334 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $102,334 – $125,076 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $125,076 – $167,209 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $167,209 – $189,124 |
CM salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual construction manager compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Construction Manager Job Market in La Crosse
With approximately 190 construction managers currently employed in La Crosse, the job market appears stable despite the cost of living index sitting at 91.769, indicating affordability relative to the national average. This favorable cost-of-living environment allows construction managers to enjoy greater purchasing power from their salaries compared to more expensive urban areas. Employers that tend to offer higher compensation include established general contractors like Bechtel and Skanska USA, as well as specialty contractors in fields such as mechanical and electrical work. The salary disparities often reflect project complexity and size, with mega-project managers commanding salaries above $200,000 through opportunities in larger firms or specialized sectors. To maximize pay in La Crosse's construction industry, professionals may consider leveraging skills in project management certifications like CMAA CCM or PMP, and pursuing roles with owner's representatives, which often balance work-life with comparable compensation.
More salary data for La Crosse, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Michael Johnson, MS, CCM
Career Analyst
Michael has 10 years of experience in construction management. He specializes in project scheduling and cost control. He works with a mid-sized general contracting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $120,940 for construction managersin the La Crosse metropolitan area. A 3.42% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.42%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for construction managers (SOC 11-9021).
Compiled and verified by Michael Johnson, MS, CCM, a licensed construction manager with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov