Dental Assistants pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,190 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Lake Charles earn between $35,020 and $48,850.
- $29K10th
- $35K25th
- $40KMedian
- $49K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,560 | $3,380 | $19.50 |
| Median | $40,200 | $3,350 | $19.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,020 | $2,918 | $16.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,850 | $4,071 | $23.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Lake Charles earn 5% less than the Louisiana average ($42,540) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $40,560 | $40,200 | $29,400 | $49,190 | 220 |
| Louisiana | $42,540 | $44,090 | $31,050 | $49,640 | 4,540 |
| United States | $50,200 | $48,070 | $37,130 | $62,250 | 387,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Assistants salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $40,560, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $33,939 a year, or $2,828 a month and $1,305 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 dental assistants? 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 $40,560 buys what about $47,244 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 9th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Hammond pays the most ($45,990).
- Hammond$45,990
- Lafayette$45,260
- New Orleans$44,760
- Slidell$44,440
- Alexandria$41,800
- Baton Rouge$41,650
- Houma$41,640
- Shreveport$41,510
- Lake Charles$40,560
- Monroe$39,330
Highest-paying cities for dental assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,150).
- San Jose, CA$71,150
- Minneapolis, MN$67,420
- San Francisco, CA$64,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,500
- Rochester, MN$61,860
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Dental Assistants salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Lake Charles?
$19.50 an hour on average, and $19.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $33,939 a year ($2,828 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,560.
Do dental assistants earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,200).
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 31-9091; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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