Chemists pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $168,460 or more. The middle half of chemists in Lake Charles earn between $98,640 and $167,220.
- $80K10th
- $99K25th
- $128KMedian
- $167K75th
- $168K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $126,650 | $10,554 | $60.89 |
| Median | $128,330 | $10,694 | $61.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,640 | $8,220 | $47.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $167,220 | $13,935 | $80.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Chemists in Lake Charles earn 19% more than the Louisiana average ($106,810) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is +41% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $126,650 | $128,330 | $80,060 | $168,460 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $106,810 | $103,890 | $58,310 | $168,460 | 740 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $126,650, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $94,418 a year, or $7,868 a month and $3,631 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 chemists? 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 $126,650 buys what about $147,521 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 1st of 4 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lake Charles$126,650
- Baton Rouge$114,620
- New Orleans$97,440
- Shreveport$86,900
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Lake Charles?
$60.89 an hour on average, and $61.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $94,418 a year ($7,868 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $126,650.
Do chemists earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% more than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
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 19-2031; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 3.23, this job is 3.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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