StateRates

Lake Charles salaries

The median worker in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earned $45,170 a year in 2024, about $21.72 an hour. That ranks #255 of the 391 metro areas published here, 8.7% below the national median.

Louisiana

Median pay $45,170 $21.72 per hour
Vs national -8.7% U.S. $49,500
Workers 100,270 wage and salary
Metro rank #255 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Lake Charles pays 3.2% more than Louisiana as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Gas Plant Operators 51.66× 530 $105,030
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 24.76× 2,050 $71,740
Gambling Dealers 18.59× 1,000 $31,510
Engineers, All Other 15.03× 1,470 $92,110
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 5.27× 2,290 $55,670
Production Workers, All Other 3.95× 710 $39,140
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors 3.74× 830 $87,220
Food Preparation Workers 3.71× 2,150 $22,880
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 3.28× 900 $63,760
Construction Laborers 3.25× 2,230 $46,850
Medical Assistants 2.94× 1,520 $37,440
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 2.91× 1,200 $51,430

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Lake Charles
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Financial Managers $127,640 $61.37 230
Gas Plant Operators $105,030 $50.49 530
Construction Managers $104,500 $50.24 280
Managers, All Other $103,650 $49.83 980
General and Operations Managers $100,680 $48.41 1,950
Lawyers $97,980 $47.11 280
Engineers, All Other $92,110 $44.29 1,470
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $87,220 $41.93 830
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $85,920 $41.31 450
Project Management Specialists $82,340 $39.59 260
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $81,230 n/a 250
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $80,740 $38.82 620
Registered Nurses $78,240 $37.62 2,610
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $77,200 $37.11 760
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $76,770 $36.91 250
Self-Enrichment Teachers $76,600 $36.83 320
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders $71,740 $34.49 2,050
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $71,440 $34.34 220
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $71,050 $34.16 760
Accountants and Auditors $67,050 $32.24 590
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $66,280 $31.87 940
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $63,760 $30.66 900
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $62,760 $30.17 300
Speech-Language Pathologists $62,450 $30.02 210
Electricians $62,320 $29.96 630
Human Resources Specialists $62,300 $29.95 230
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines $62,090 $29.85 460
Coaches and Scouts $61,900 n/a 240
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $58,120 $27.94 680
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $58,040 $27.90 990
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $57,570 $27.68 330
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $55,670 $26.77 2,290
Postal Service Mail Carriers $54,720 $26.31 310
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other $54,080 $26.00 270
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $51,570 $24.79 880
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $51,480 $24.75 1,460
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $51,430 $24.73 1,200
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other $50,800 $24.42 210
Carpenters $50,160 $24.11 1,100
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $50,110 n/a 450
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $50,030 n/a 930
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $49,880 $23.98 340
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School $49,550 n/a 280
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $49,440 n/a 1,080
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $49,270 $23.69 210
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,340 $23.24 1,180
Construction Laborers $46,850 $22.52 2,230
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $45,950 $22.09 240
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $45,910 $22.07 300
Painters, Construction and Maintenance $45,010 $21.64 360
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $43,120 $20.73 980
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $41,940 $20.16 550
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $41,640 $20.02 850
Pharmacy Technicians $39,640 $19.06 250
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $39,170 $18.83 340
Production Workers, All Other $39,140 $18.82 710
Bus Drivers, School $38,950 $18.73 400
Dental Assistants $38,750 $18.63 230
Light Truck Drivers $38,720 $18.62 710
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $38,630 $18.57 1,370

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Lake Charles by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Cashiers 3,070 $24,640 $11.85
Registered Nurses 2,610 $78,240 $37.62
Retail Salespersons 2,590 $28,260 $13.59
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 2,290 $55,670 $26.77
Construction Laborers 2,230 $46,850 $22.52
Food Preparation Workers 2,150 $22,880 $11.00
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders 2,050 $71,740 $34.49
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,980 $34,970 $16.81
General and Operations Managers 1,950 $100,680 $48.41
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 1,800 $21,660 $10.42
Office Clerks, General 1,730 $29,690 $14.27
Fast Food and Counter Workers 1,680 $22,630 $10.88
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,540 $33,790 $16.24
Medical Assistants 1,520 $37,440 $18.00
Waiters and Waitresses 1,490 $17,670 $8.49
Engineers, All Other 1,470 $92,110 $44.29
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 1,460 $51,480 $24.75
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,370 $38,630 $18.57
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 1,210 $27,380 $13.16
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 1,200 $51,430 $24.73

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Louisiana metro areas

Lake Charles pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Lake Charles?

The median across all occupations is $45,170, or $21.72 an hour, covering 100,270 wage and salary workers. The mean is $54,950, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Lake Charles pay more than the rest of Louisiana?

Yes. The metro median of $45,170 is 3.2% above the Louisiana median of $43,770. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Lake Charles?

Financial Managers ($127,640), Gas Plant Operators ($105,030), Construction Managers ($104,500). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Lake Charles unusually full of?

Gas Plant Operators, at 51.66× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.