Carpenters pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,800 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Lake Charles earn between $33,550 and $59,240.
- $32K10th
- $34K25th
- $46KMedian
- $59K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,750 | $3,896 | $22.48 |
| Median | $45,930 | $3,828 | $22.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,550 | $2,796 | $16.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,240 | $4,937 | $28.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Carpenters in Lake Charles earn 9% less than the Louisiana average ($51,600) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $46,750 | $45,930 | $32,000 | $64,800 | 630 |
| Louisiana | $51,600 | $49,920 | $34,100 | $69,310 | 8,990 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $46,750, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $38,727 a year, or $3,227 a month and $1,490 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lake Charles a good place for carpenters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lake Charles area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $46,750 buys what about $54,454 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 9th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Baton Rouge pays the most ($54,590).
- Baton Rouge$54,590
- New Orleans$53,310
- Houma$51,430
- Slidell$50,030
- Shreveport$48,480
- Lafayette$48,450
- Alexandria$48,370
- Monroe$48,060
- Lake Charles$46,750
- Hammond$45,970
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Lake Charles?
$22.48 an hour on average, and $22.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $38,727 a year ($3,227 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,750.
Do carpenters earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2031; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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