Chemical Engineers pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $177,790 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Lake Charles earn between $115,530 and $177,790.
- $95K10th
- $116K25th
- $137KMedian
- $178K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $144,900 | $12,075 | $69.66 |
| Median | $136,810 | $11,401 | $65.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $115,530 | $9,628 | $55.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $177,790 | $14,816 | $85.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Lake Charles earn 7% more than the Louisiana average ($135,190) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $144,900 | $136,810 | $95,280 | $177,790 | 100 |
| Louisiana | $135,190 | $134,800 | $75,500 | $177,790 | 730 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $144,900, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $106,344 a year, or $8,862 a month and $4,090 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 chemical engineers? 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 $144,900 buys what about $168,779 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 1.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 1st of 3 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lake Charles$144,900
- New Orleans$137,320
- Baton Rouge$136,220
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Lake Charles?
$69.66 an hour on average, and $65.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $115,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $106,344 a year ($8,862 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $144,900.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
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 17-2041; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 7.16, this job is 7.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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