metropolitan statistical area · 29340

Lake Charles, LA

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025Lake Charles, LA metro area

Figures describe the Lake Charles, LA metropolitan statistical area as defined by BLS/OMB — the whole multi-county metro region, not Lake Charles city limits.

Median annual wage, all occupations$45,700
Total employment101,690

Across all occupations, the median wage in the Lake Charles, LA metro area was $45,700 per year ($21.97 per hour) as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 101,690 jobs. 280 detailed occupations are published for this area.

Most concentrated occupations

Occupations far more common here than in the U.S. overall (location quotient ≥ 1.5, published estimates only) — a truthful picture of what makes this area’s job mix distinctive.

Location quotient: local share of employment ÷ national share
OccupationLocation quotientEmploymentMedian annual
Chemical Plant and System Operators68.50740$102,310
Gambling Dealers16.11880$15,080
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders14.491,320$74,220
Engineers, All Other13.191,330$94,810
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers4.071,780$56,290
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors3.66850$87,940
Production Workers, All Other3.59590$46,590
Painters, Construction and Maintenance3.57530$46,810

All published occupations

Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this area in May 2025 280 in total. Sort by pay, employment, or concentration.

Published occupations in the Lake Charles, LA metro area
Occupation
Cashiers$27,480$13.212,8401.40
Retail Salespersons$28,780$13.842,6201.03
Registered Nurses$90,690$43.602,4601.11
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,500$10.822,3500.93
General and Operations Managers$101,370$48.742,1400.93
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,000$11.062,1400.76
Construction Laborers$45,240$21.752,1302.97
Waiters and Waitresses$15,080$7.251,9501.31
Food Preparation Workers$23,380$11.241,9403.32
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,290$27.061,7804.07
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$35,740$17.181,6900.87
Stockers and Order Fillers$34,690$16.681,6600.90
Office Clerks, General$31,630$15.211,5900.99
Medical Assistants$38,550$18.531,5102.83
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,260$19.361,3901.25
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$46,170$22.201,3501.35
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,960$24.021,3400.99
Engineers, All Other$94,810$45.581,33013.19
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$74,220$35.681,32014.49
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,580$13.741,2900.90
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$51,520Not published1,0901.20
Customer Service Representatives$35,080$16.861,0900.64
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$52,140Not published1,0201.47
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,180$36.149701.82
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$72,920$35.069703.55
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,570$29.129301.15
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$53,300$25.638902.10
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$46,230$22.238901.21
Gambling Dealers$15,080$7.2588016.11
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$54,960$26.428800.93
Security Guards$29,740$14.308701.03
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$87,940$42.288503.66
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,230$16.468501.07
Cooks, Restaurant$28,550$13.738500.92
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$44,550$21.428300.92
Managers, All Other$103,550$49.798001.97
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$92,560$44.507501.70
Chemical Plant and System Operators$102,310$49.1974068.50
Nursing Assistants$33,850$16.277300.77
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,280$45.336901.70
Light Truck Drivers$38,210$18.376701.04
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$63,130$30.356600.92
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$26,140$12.576401.14
Carpenters$45,930$22.086301.45
Accountants and Auditors$70,050$33.686000.63
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$31,610Not published6000.64
Electricians$63,620$30.595901.18
Production Workers, All Other$46,590$22.405903.59
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,620$15.205700.96
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$67,990$32.695601.83
Bartenders$18,280$8.795501.11
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$46,810$22.505303.57
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$45,540$21.905201.14
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$34,030$16.364900.79
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$63,570$30.564901.26
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,870$28.794601.58
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$52,220Not published4501.12
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$20,930$10.064301.53
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$49,270$23.694101.32
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,780$30.664103.54
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55,940$26.904103.58
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$47,310$22.743900.47
Bus Drivers, School$39,520$19.003701.39
Construction Managers$108,590$52.213601.46
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61,390$29.513600.89
Project Management Specialists$92,770$44.603500.51
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$38,610$18.563501.09
Lawyers$101,690$48.893500.72
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$26,600$12.793501.36
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$37,010$17.803400.65
Self-Enrichment Teachers$79,580$38.263101.43
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$20,770$9.983100.87
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$51,630Not published3001.76
Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,510$28.133001.40
Sailors and Marine Oilers$38,600$18.5630014.44
Pharmacy Technicians$41,520$19.962900.95
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$27,570$13.262901.73
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$43,770$21.052900.57
Human Resources Specialists$64,130$30.832800.46
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$82,710$39.762803.01
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$32,460$15.612800.97
Machinists$75,580$36.342801.51
Coaches and Scouts$65,020Not published2701.64
Insurance Sales Agents$37,650$18.102700.87
Tellers$35,360$17.002701.26
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$45,360$21.812600.81
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$27,580$13.262601.05
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$84,410Not published2501.14
Financial Managers$123,450$59.352400.44
Firefighters$29,550$14.212401.07
Childcare Workers$21,820$10.492400.69
Parts Salespersons$36,620$17.612301.28
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$48,970$23.542200.84
Pharmacists$133,720$64.292201.06
Dental Assistants$40,200$19.332200.88
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$38,020$18.282201.72
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$47,360$22.772200.84
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$52,930$25.452102.70
Speech-Language Pathologists$64,720$31.112101.77
Billing and Posting Clerks$42,890$20.622100.81
Helpers--Electricians$37,930$18.232105.03
Helpers--Production Workers$37,440$18.002101.90
Industrial Production Managers$136,800$65.772001.26
Medical and Health Services Managers$101,320$48.712000.51
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$48,160$23.152002.86
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$52,520Not published2001.83
Dishwashers$24,760$11.912000.63
Cost Estimators$74,570$35.851901.28
Industrial Engineers$129,260$62.141800.74
Chemists$128,330$61.701803.23
Nurse Practitioners$128,460$61.761800.87
Counter and Rental Clerks$36,190$17.401800.69
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,070$36.571801.94
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$36,400$17.501700.27
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$36,800$17.691705.73
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$27,460$13.201701.31
Sales Managers$124,580$59.901600.39
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$67,050$32.241600.48
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$51,080$24.561600.27
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$20,470$9.841602.96
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,400$21.831601.57
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$36,950$17.761602.63
Driver/Sales Workers$26,560$12.771600.59
Architectural and Engineering Managers$191,250$91.951501.07
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$63,840$30.691503.88
Chemical Technicians$88,780$42.681503.91
Social and Human Service Assistants$36,070$17.341500.54
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,480$21.871500.48
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$47,880$23.021506.75
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$72,230$34.731501.46
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$23,840$11.461500.77
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$47,270$22.731501.82
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$119,630$57.511506.04
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$92,640$44.541400.96
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$52,180Not published1402.03
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$53,940$25.931401.56
Physical Therapists$88,900$42.741400.81
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,410$27.601400.72
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,190$37.591401.59
Loan Officers$56,550$27.191300.75
Computer User Support Specialists$51,480$24.751300.27
Computer Occupations, All Other$78,960$37.961300.45
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$35,340$16.991301.39
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$51,390$24.711300.99
Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,590$18.071301.42
Compliance Officers$78,780$37.881200.45
Training and Development Specialists$80,550$38.721200.41
Civil Engineers$97,490$46.871200.49
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$34,200$16.441201.10
General Internal Medicine Physicians$239,200 or more$115.00 or more1202.69
Dental Hygienists$84,080$40.421200.81
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$60,020$28.861200.77
Psychiatric Technicians$34,550$16.611201.16
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$35,370$17.011201.42
Phlebotomists$35,210$16.931201.32
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$25,210$12.121201.20
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$37,330$17.951201.03
Pest Control Workers$36,350$17.481201.74
Food Service Managers$48,480$23.311100.68
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$56,050$26.951100.55
Logisticians$92,170$44.311100.65
Mechanical Engineers$126,090$60.621100.59
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$52,100Not published1101.73
Instructional Coordinators$63,410$30.491100.73
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$41,160$19.791100.49
School Bus Monitors$31,410$15.101102.14
Chefs and Head Cooks$43,520$20.931100.87
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$50,170$24.121101.07
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,420$29.531100.44
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$37,670$18.111103.21
Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,480$30.041102.89
Bakers$28,510$13.711100.69
Software Developers$120,940$58.141000.09
Chemical Engineers$136,810$65.771007.16
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$63,420Not published1001.37
Physical Therapist Assistants$64,550$31.031001.33
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$75,540$36.321000.68
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$77,870$37.441001.07
Administrative Services Managers$93,580$44.99900.54
Dentists, General$114,470$55.03901.06
Animal Caretakers$26,160$12.58900.54
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$25,700$12.36901.18
Recreation Workers$26,370$12.68900.43
Sales and Related Workers, All Other$37,140$17.86901.45
Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other$40,750$19.59905.43
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$45,900$22.07903.06
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,100$17.36900.09
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$38,330$18.43900.96
Financial Specialists, All Other$56,600$27.21800.96
Computer Systems Analysts$91,210$43.85800.25
Emergency Medical Technicians$36,260$17.44800.65
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$38,430$18.47800.63
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$29,650$14.25801.17
Correctional Officers and Jailers$39,960$19.21800.31
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$58,240$28.00801.12
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$36,480$17.54800.36
Sheet Metal Workers$55,580$26.72801.07
Automotive Body and Related Repairers$46,210$22.22800.81
Tire Repairers and Changers$34,560$16.62801.15
Packers and Packagers, Hand$26,480$12.73800.23
Computer and Information Systems Managers$112,460$54.07700.15
Social and Community Service Managers$80,000$38.46700.51
Personal Financial Advisors$47,040$22.62700.40
Electrical Engineers$129,940$62.47700.51
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$125,670$60.42704.65
Counselors, All Other$46,000$22.12703.97
Graphic Designers$45,610$21.93700.52
Occupational Therapists$83,840$40.31700.68
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$77,570$37.29700.40
Real Estate Sales Agents$44,220$21.26700.58
Construction and Building Inspectors$58,740$28.24700.78
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$56,880$27.35702.53
Commercial Pilots$99,600Not published702.19
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$28,860$13.88700.42
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$28,550$13.73701.09
Chief Executives$108,200$52.02600.45
Management Analysts$97,810$47.03600.10
Computer Network Support Specialists$76,950$36.99600.62
Surveyors$64,520$31.02601.74
Drafters, All Other$71,690$34.46605.99
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$67,920$32.66601.10
Special Education Teachers, All Other$52,790Not published602.55
Public Relations Specialists$58,150$27.96600.32
Respiratory Therapists$73,680$35.42600.69
Veterinarians$115,210$55.39601.02
Physicians, All Other$284,440$136.75600.27
Surgical Technologists$58,850$28.29600.76
Massage Therapists$42,830$20.59600.87
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$25,590$12.31600.30
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$39,760$19.12600.85
Loan Interviewers and Clerks$44,830$21.55600.60
Couriers and Messengers$32,130$15.45601.25
Riggers$44,770$21.53603.94
Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsNot publishedNot published605.72
Human Resources Managers$105,370$50.66500.35
Financial and Investment Analysts$75,560$36.33500.19
Tax Preparers$36,480$17.54500.97
Architectural and Civil Drafters$79,540$38.24500.70
School Psychologists$69,020$33.18501.17
Child, Family, and School Social Workers$47,490$22.83500.20
Teachers and Instructors, All Other$51,950Not published500.73
Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,820$37.42501.44
Protective Service Workers, All Other$36,390$17.50501.01
Information and Record Clerks, All Other$36,820$17.70500.53
Public Safety Telecommunicators$47,280$22.73500.81
Postal Service Clerks$62,610$30.10501.06
Helpers--Carpenters$46,510$22.36503.38
Facilities Managers$78,680$37.83400.35
Gambling Managers$73,390$35.294012.28
Lodging Managers$51,990$25.00401.28
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$83,670$40.23400.21
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,740$46.99400.58
Social Workers, All Other$38,630$18.57401.09
Physician Assistants$127,160$61.13400.35
Opticians, Dispensing$35,130$16.89400.79
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$51,040$24.54400.55
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$44,370$21.33400.84
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$37,350$17.96400.56
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$51,380$24.70402.14
Skincare Specialists$28,090$13.51400.92
Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$21,580$10.38402.99
Financial Clerks, All Other$39,050$18.78401.49
File Clerks$27,680$13.31400.89
Data Entry Keyers$33,310$16.02400.54
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksNot publishedNot published400.32
Glaziers$47,980$23.07401.17
Highway Maintenance Workers$27,830$13.38400.42
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$61,730$29.68400.89
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$63,170$30.37406.20
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$88,710$42.65300.15
Healthcare Social Workers$65,120$31.31300.27
Legal Support Workers, All Other$48,040$23.10301.08
Animal Control Workers$38,020$18.28304.24
Private Detectives and InvestigatorsNot publishedNot published301.40
Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$36,260$17.43300.87
Cargo and Freight Agents$68,080$32.73300.49
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$47,420$22.80300.60
Audio and Video Technicians$49,150$23.63Not publishedNot published
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$46,660$22.43Not publishedNot published
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$48,010$23.08Not publishedNot published

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.