Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lake Charles, LA

Each occupation's median wage in Lake Charles, LA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Lake Charles, LA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Self-Enrichment Teachers$79,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,980 – $97,860+70.0%
2Chemical Technicians$88,780
Associate's degree
$60,180 – $113,950+47.0%
3Chemists$128,330
Bachelor's degree
$80,060 – $168,460+40.7%
4Coaches and Scouts$65,020
Bachelor's degree
$29,640 – $65,020+37.4%
5Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$87,940
Master's degree
$67,750 – $87,940+36.7%
6Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$72,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,190 – $88,110+35.7%
7Chemical Plant and System Operators$102,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,910 – $121,530+31.0%
8Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$63,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $108,870+30.9%
9Cargo and Freight Agents$68,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,640 – $74,880+30.3%
10Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$119,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,190 – $123,780+29.4%
11Machinists$75,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,830 – $108,260+28.6%
12Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$74,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $107,060+27.9%
13Industrial Engineers$129,260
Bachelor's degree
$78,540 – $180,490+26.2%
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,740
Associate's degree
$54,320 – $106,860+25.0%
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$92,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,610 – $161,200+24.3%
16Mechanical Engineers$126,090
Bachelor's degree
$75,510 – $201,710+21.1%
17Architectural and Civil Drafters$79,540
Associate's degree
$46,020 – $182,330+20.2%
18Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,480
Associate's degree
$21,900 – $55,860+19.2%
19Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,070 – $92,300+19.1%
20First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,990 – $166,500+18.1%
21Training and Development Specialists$80,550
Bachelor's degree
$41,530 – $128,380+16.3%
22Production Workers, All Other$46,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $62,830+16.2%
23Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$88,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,690 – $111,140+13.7%
24Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,960 – $107,740+13.6%
25Drafters, All Other$71,690
Associate's degree
$43,670 – $136,000+12.9%
26Logisticians$92,170
Bachelor's degree
$60,280 – $170,470+12.0%
27Architectural and Engineering Managers$191,250
Bachelor's degree
$135,260 – $223,750+11.7%
28Chemical Engineers$136,810
Bachelor's degree
$95,280 – $177,790+9.4%
29Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$125,670
Bachelor's degree
$93,480 – $169,890+9.1%
30Industrial Production Managers$136,800
Bachelor's degree
$79,720 – $215,990+8.5%
31Electrical Engineers$129,940
Bachelor's degree
$80,520 – $170,700+7.7%
32Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,820
Associate's degree
$61,210 – $95,450+7.6%
33Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$63,170
No formal educational credential
$47,460 – $81,720+7.3%
34Physicians, All Other$284,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$110,910 – $488,910+7.0%
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$67,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,700 – $80,640+6.6%
36Helpers--Carpenters$46,510
No formal educational credential
$21,640 – $57,660+6.2%
37Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$52,930
Bachelor's degree
$27,390 – $82,110+4.0%
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,430 – $103,140+3.0%
39Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,220 – $98,660+2.7%
40Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$51,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,550 – $74,650+2.1%
41Computer Network Support Specialists$76,950
Associate's degree
$42,900 – $91,280+1.0%
42Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360+0.8%
43Electricians$63,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,900 – $96,790+0.7%
44Social and Community Service Managers$80,000
Bachelor's degree
$48,440 – $118,610-0.5%
45Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$56,880
No formal educational credential
$43,160 – $98,060-2.2%
46Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$45,900
No formal educational credential
$30,100 – $65,100-2.3%
47Compliance Officers$78,780
Bachelor's degree
$40,920 – $143,420-2.4%
48First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $93,800-2.4%
49Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$77,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,660 – $100,930-2.5%
50Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,470 – $116,060-2.6%

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	vs. national
1	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,580	$31,980 – $97,860	+70.0%
2	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$88,780	$60,180 – $113,950	+47.0%
3	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$128,330	$80,060 – $168,460	+40.7%
4	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$65,020	$29,640 – $65,020	+37.4%
5	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$87,940	$67,750 – $87,940	+36.7%
6	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,920	$50,190 – $88,110	+35.7%
7	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,310	$50,910 – $121,530	+31.0%
8	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,570	$39,070 – $108,870	+30.9%
9	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,080	$25,640 – $74,880	+30.3%
10	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$119,630	$59,190 – $123,780	+29.4%
11	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,580	$46,830 – $108,260	+28.6%
12	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,220	$48,490 – $107,060	+27.9%
13	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$129,260	$78,540 – $180,490	+26.2%
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,740	$54,320 – $106,860	+25.0%
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,560	$53,610 – $161,200	+24.3%
16	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$126,090	$75,510 – $201,710	+21.1%
17	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,540	$46,020 – $182,330	+20.2%
18	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$45,480	$21,900 – $55,860	+19.2%
19	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,070	$51,070 – $92,300	+19.1%
20	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,280	$48,990 – $166,500	+18.1%
21	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$80,550	$41,530 – $128,380	+16.3%
22	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,590	$36,680 – $62,830	+16.2%
23	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,710	$37,690 – $111,140	+13.7%
24	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,940	$27,960 – $107,740	+13.6%
25	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$71,690	$43,670 – $136,000	+12.9%
26	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$92,170	$60,280 – $170,470	+12.0%
27	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$191,250	$135,260 – $223,750	+11.7%
28	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$136,810	$95,280 – $177,790	+9.4%
29	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree	$125,670	$93,480 – $169,890	+9.1%
30	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,800	$79,720 – $215,990	+8.5%
31	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$129,940	$80,520 – $170,700	+7.7%
32	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,820	$61,210 – $95,450	+7.6%
33	Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersNo formal educational credential	$63,170	$47,460 – $81,720	+7.3%
34	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$284,440	$110,910 – $488,910	+7.0%
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,990	$45,700 – $80,640	+6.6%
36	Helpers--CarpentersNo formal educational credential	$46,510	$21,640 – $57,660	+6.2%
37	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$52,930	$27,390 – $82,110	+4.0%
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,420	$39,430 – $103,140	+3.0%
39	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,480	$31,220 – $98,660	+2.7%
40	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,390	$35,550 – $74,650	+2.1%
41	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,950	$42,900 – $91,280	+1.0%
42	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $76,360	+0.8%
43	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,620	$36,900 – $96,790	+0.7%
44	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$80,000	$48,440 – $118,610	-0.5%
45	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$56,880	$43,160 – $98,060	-2.2%
46	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$45,900	$30,100 – $65,100	-2.3%
47	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$78,780	$40,920 – $143,420	-2.4%
48	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,390	$36,600 – $93,800	-2.4%
49	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,870	$46,660 – $100,930	-2.5%
50	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,780	$43,470 – $116,060	-2.6%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lake Charles, LA

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