Salary comparison
Medical Records Specialists: Milwaukee vs La Crosse
Milwaukee, WI pays about 1.8% more for medical records specialists on paper — $65,730 vs $64,590. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Milwaukee comes out ahead by $1,140 a year in real buying power.
Milwaukee, WI
$65,730
$51,980
$75,000
$31.60
100
$65,730/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
La Crosse, WI
$64,590
$52,000
$82,920
$31.05
100
$64,590/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $1,140 a year (1.8%) in favor of Milwaukee. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Milwaukee runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; La Crosse sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Milwaukee is the better deal by $1,140 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from La Crosse to Milwaukee for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.8% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do medical records specialists earn more, Milwaukee or La Crosse?
Milwaukee pays $65,730 on median — about 1.8% more than La Crosse ($64,590). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Milwaukee. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Milwaukee gives you roughly$65,730 of real buying power versus $64,590 in the other city.