Lake Charles, LA metro area
Highest-Paying Occupations in Lake Charles Metro
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. Occupations are ranked by published median annual wage; occupations where BLS suppressed the annual median or publishes only hourly wages are not ranked (3 such occupations here).
Top 25 of 277 occupations
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, All Other | $284,440 | $136.75 | 60 |
| 2 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $239,200 or more | $115.00 or more | 120 |
| 3 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $191,250 | $91.95 | 150 |
| 4 | Chemical Engineers | $136,810 | $65.77 | 100 |
| 5 | Industrial Production Managers | $136,800 | $65.77 | 200 |
| 6 | Pharmacists | $133,720 | $64.29 | 220 |
| 7 | Electrical Engineers | $129,940 | $62.47 | 70 |
| 8 | Industrial Engineers | $129,260 | $62.14 | 180 |
| 9 | Nurse Practitioners | $128,460 | $61.76 | 180 |
| 10 | Chemists | $128,330 | $61.70 | 180 |
| 11 | Physician Assistants | $127,160 | $61.13 | 40 |
| 12 | Mechanical Engineers | $126,090 | $60.62 | 110 |
| 13 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $125,670 | $60.42 | 70 |
| 14 | Sales Managers | $124,580 | $59.90 | 160 |
| 15 | Financial Managers | $123,450 | $59.35 | 240 |
| 16 | Software Developers | $120,940 | $58.14 | 100 |
| 17 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $119,630 | $57.51 | 150 |
| 18 | Veterinarians | $115,210 | $55.39 | 60 |
| 19 | Dentists, General | $114,470 | $55.03 | 90 |
| 20 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $112,460 | $54.07 | 70 |
| 21 | Construction Managers | $108,590 | $52.21 | 360 |
| 22 | Chief Executives | $108,200 | $52.02 | 60 |
| 23 | Human Resources Managers | $105,370 | $50.66 | 50 |
| 24 | Managers, All Other | $103,550 | $49.79 | 800 |
| 25 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | $102,310 | $49.19 | 740 |
The full list of every published occupation here is on the Lake Charles metro area overview.
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.