High paying jobs in Lake Charles, LA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Lake Charles, LA and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Lake Charles, LA run 14.1% below the national average (2024), so a Lake Charles, LA salary is worth about 1.16× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Lake Charles, LA

OccupationMedian, Lake Charles, LA · Employed

1Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$119,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,190 – $123,780150
2Chemical Plant and System Operators$102,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,910 – $121,530740
3Commercial Pilots$99,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,820 – $158,82070
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,740
Associate's degree
$54,320 – $106,86040
5First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,990 – $166,500690
6Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$92,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,620 – $174,000140
7First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$92,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,610 – $161,200750
8Chemical Technicians$88,780
Associate's degree
$60,180 – $113,950150
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$88,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,690 – $111,14030
10Dental Hygienists$84,080
Associate's degree
$62,950 – $92,910120
11Self-Enrichment Teachers$79,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,980 – $97,860310
12Architectural and Civil Drafters$79,540
Associate's degree
$46,020 – $182,33050
13Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,580 – $114,330140
14Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$77,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,660 – $100,930100
15Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,820
Associate's degree
$61,210 – $95,45050
16Computer Network Support Specialists$76,950
Associate's degree
$42,900 – $91,28060
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,070 – $92,300180
18Machinists$75,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,830 – $108,260280
19First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$75,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,630 – $139,110100
20First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,230 – $101,200970
21Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$74,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $107,0601,320
22Respiratory Therapists$73,680
Associate's degree
$58,640 – $83,45060
23Gambling Managers$73,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,100 – $121,42040
24Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$72,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,190 – $88,110970
25First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$72,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,160 – $78,290150
26Drafters, All Other$71,690
Associate's degree
$43,670 – $136,00060
27Cargo and Freight Agents$68,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,640 – $74,88030
28Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$67,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,700 – $80,640560
29Physical Therapist Assistants$64,550
Associate's degree
$21,420 – $78,630100
30Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$63,840
Associate's degree
$37,720 – $106,310150
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,470 – $116,060410
32Electricians$63,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,900 – $96,790590
33Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$63,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $108,870490
34Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$63,170
No formal educational credential
$47,460 – $81,72040
35Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36050
36Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,220 – $98,660110
37Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$61,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,440 – $99,51040
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,430 – $103,140110
39First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $93,800360
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,820 – $121,200930
41Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$60,020
Associate's degree
$47,430 – $76,100120
42Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,130 – $93,300460
43Surgical Technologists$58,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,850 – $69,29060
44Construction and Building Inspectors$58,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,870 – $88,77070
45Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,510
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040300
46Detectives and Criminal Investigators$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $112,26080
47Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,300 – $81,190140
48Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$56,880
No formal educational credential
$43,160 – $98,06070
49Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,220 – $72,4201,780
50Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$56,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,940 – $105,060110

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianLake Charles, LA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$119,630	$59,190 – $123,780	150
2	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,310	$50,910 – $121,530	740
3	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,600	$50,820 – $158,820	70
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,740	$54,320 – $106,860	40
5	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,280	$48,990 – $166,500	690
6	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,640	$51,620 – $174,000	140
7	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,560	$53,610 – $161,200	750
8	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$88,780	$60,180 – $113,950	150
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,710	$37,690 – $111,140	30
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,080	$62,950 – $92,910	120
11	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,580	$31,980 – $97,860	310
12	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,540	$46,020 – $182,330	50
13	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,190	$48,580 – $114,330	140
14	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,870	$46,660 – $100,930	100
15	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,820	$61,210 – $95,450	50
16	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,950	$42,900 – $91,280	60
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,070	$51,070 – $92,300	180
18	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,580	$46,830 – $108,260	280
19	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,540	$46,630 – $139,110	100
20	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,180	$51,230 – $101,200	970
21	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,220	$48,490 – $107,060	1,320
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$73,680	$58,640 – $83,450	60
23	Gambling ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,390	$57,100 – $121,420	40
24	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,920	$50,190 – $88,110	970
25	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,230	$55,160 – $78,290	150
26	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$71,690	$43,670 – $136,000	60
27	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,080	$25,640 – $74,880	30
28	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,990	$45,700 – $80,640	560
29	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,550	$21,420 – $78,630	100
30	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$63,840	$37,720 – $106,310	150
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,780	$43,470 – $116,060	410
32	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,620	$36,900 – $96,790	590
33	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,570	$39,070 – $108,870	490
34	Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersNo formal educational credential	$63,170	$47,460 – $81,720	40
35	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $76,360	50
36	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,480	$31,220 – $98,660	110
37	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,730	$39,440 – $99,510	40
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,420	$39,430 – $103,140	110
39	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,390	$36,600 – $93,800	360
40	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,570	$35,820 – $121,200	930
41	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,020	$47,430 – $76,100	120
42	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$37,130 – $93,300	460
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,850	$39,850 – $69,290	60
44	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,740	$35,870 – $88,770	70
45	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,510	$42,390 – $81,040	300
46	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$37,440 – $112,260	80
47	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,410	$38,300 – $81,190	140
48	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$56,880	$43,160 – $98,060	70
49	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,290	$45,220 – $72,420	1,780
50	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,050	$33,940 – $105,060	110

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Lake Charles, LA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Lake Charles, LA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Lake Charles, LA that need no degree

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