Quick answer:First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers in the La Crosse area earn a median $77,500 per year, below the national median of $79,920, and the metro employs about 370 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Construction Supervision Pay in La Crosse, WI
Metric
La Crosse metro
Wisconsin
National
Median annual wage
$77,500
$85,350
$79,920
10th percentile
$52,760
$54,840
$53,280
25th percentile
$62,400
$68,430
$63,400
75th percentile
$96,040
$102,050
$101,460
90th percentile
$113,990
$122,880
$128,260
Employment
370
15,150
812,210
Location quotient
0.85
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The La Crosse median of $77,500 is below the national median of $79,920, and below the Wisconsin statewide median of $85,350 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.85 means construction supervisors are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Supervision is hired off the local project pipeline. The commercial, industrial and public work active in a metro is what determines how many crews need a foreman.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. There is no license to supervise a construction crew. What gatekeeps the role is the trade credential underneath it plus site-safety training - the OSHA 30-hour construction course is the one employers ask for by name - and, on public work, the contractor license held by the employing firm rather than by the supervisor personally. Contractor licensing rules differ substantially between states.
See the Wisconsin licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state contractor licensing board.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 3 schools
within 162 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
3 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do construction supervisors make in La Crosse?
The median annual wage for construction supervisors in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $77,500, below the national median of $79,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many construction supervisors work in the La Crosse area?
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area employs about 370 construction supervisors (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do construction supervisors in La Crosse need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. There is no license to supervise a construction crew. What gatekeeps the role is the trade credential underneath it plus site-safety training - the OSHA 30-hour construction course is the one employers ask for by name - and, on public work, the contractor license held by the employing firm rather than by the supervisor personally. Contractor licensing rules differ substantially between states. Confirm current requirements with your state contractor licensing board.
Can I study construction supervision online from La Crosse?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state contractor licensing board.
Is La Crosse a better market than the rest of Wisconsin?
The La Crosse metro median is $77,500 against a statewide median of $85,350 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (SOC 47-1011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
