Paralegal Hourly Pay in La Crosse, WI: $24.75 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a paralegal working in La Crosse, WI runs $24.75 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $51,465 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-2011). Weighted against La Crosse's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.8, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $26.97 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $30,887 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In La Crosse, Wisconsin, the projected median paralegal hourly pay for 2026 is $24.75, significantly lower than the national median of $31.30. This hourly rate allows part-time paralegals, working three days a week, to earn a respectable income in local law firms, corporate legal departments, and government offices. The pay scale varies widely, with entry-level paralegals starting at around $22.02 per hour, while seasoned professionals in higher-paying roles can reach up to $38.79 per hour. These figures are based on the 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and reflect the diverse work environments where paralegals operate, including open office settings and remote e-discovery reviews.
Paralegal Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.02 | $176.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.23 | $185.82 |
| Median (P50) | $24.75 | $197.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $30.78 | $246.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $38.79 | $310.28 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in La Crosse
Based on $24.75/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $24.75/hr, a paralegal working full-time (40 hr/wk) in La Crosse, WI can expect to earn approximately $51,478 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $29,699. With a cost-of-living index of 91.77 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in La Crosse.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in La Crosse
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $989.97 | $4,290 | $51,478 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $593.98 | $2,574 | $30,887 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $395.99 | $1,716 | $20,591 |
Compare Paralegal Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Paralegal (La Crosse) | $24.75 |
| Lawyer (National Avg) | $81.25 |
| Legal Secretary (National Avg) | $26.86 |
| Court Reporter (National Avg) | $30.10 |
| Title Examiner / Abstractor (National Avg) | $29.85 |
Paralegals in La Crosse, WI earn a median of $51,465 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.94% lower than the national median of $65,097 and 3.50% below the Wisconsin state average of $53,332.
Paralegal Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $24.75/hr = $30,887/year (purchasing power: $33,657).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $51,478/year (purchasing power: $56,096).
CoL index: 91.769 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$20.70/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$23.91/hr
2026 Current Est.
$24.75/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+23.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Paralegals in La Crosse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.51% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $20.70/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.16/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.18/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $23.04/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.79/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.90/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $23.91/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $24.75/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $25.62/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for paralegals in La Crosse grew 15.5% from $20.70/hr (2019) to $23.91/hr (2025). At a 3.51% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $25.62/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem paralegals can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
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 3.51% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Paralegal in La Crosse
Part-time paralegals working a 24-hour week can expect to take home around $30,000 annually, a markedly different situation compared to full-time colleagues. Many paralegals also explore per diem or contract opportunities, where the compensation varies widely, with rates commonly ranging from $25 to $50 per hour. E-discovery specialists often command even higher pay, between $30 and $60 per hour, while freelance corporate paralegals can earn $40 to $75 per hour for specialized services. Employers in La Crosse, such as law firms or government offices, offer varying pay scales, often reflecting the trade-off between benefits and hourly compensation. Negotiating hourly rates can be advantageous; candidates might secure higher pay in exchange for forgoing health benefits, especially in contract roles. Understanding local market demands and leveraging relevant certifications from organizations like NALA or NFPA can enhance salary prospects in this competitive field.
More salary data for La Crosse, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jessica Tran, JD
Career Analyst
Jessica Tran has 10 years of experience in paralegal studies. She specializes in corporate law and works with a law firm. She trains new paralegals in legal research and documentation.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.51% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for paralegals in La Crosse. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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 3.51%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for paralegals (SOC 23-2011).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, JD, a licensed paralegal with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov