Drafters, All Other pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,000 or more. The middle half of other drafters in Lake Charles earn between $50,780 and $119,190.
- $44K10th
- $51K25th
- $72KMedian
- $119K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,630 | $6,802 | $39.25 |
| Median | $71,690 | $5,974 | $34.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,780 | $4,232 | $24.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,190 | $9,932 | $57.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Drafters, All Other pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Other drafters in Lake Charles earn 11% more than the Louisiana average ($73,590) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($68,250). At the median the gap is +13% against the U.S. median of $63,520.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $81,630 | $71,690 | $43,670 | $136,000 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $73,590 | $68,470 | $45,730 | $110,460 | 1,200 |
| United States | $68,250 | $63,520 | $43,420 | $99,380 | 14,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Drafters, All Other salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $81,630, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $64,194 a year, or $5,350 a month and $2,469 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 other drafters? 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 $81,630 buys what about $95,082 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Drafters, All Other salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 2nd of 7 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Baton Rouge pays the most ($82,190).
- Baton Rouge$82,190
- Lake Charles$81,630
- Alexandria$75,390
- New Orleans$70,120
- Slidell$69,620
- Lafayette$69,570
- Houma$67,600
Highest-paying cities for other drafters
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,260).
- San Jose, CA$91,260
- San Francisco, CA$88,560
- New York, NY$87,900
- Milwaukee, WI$82,450
- Baton Rouge, LA$82,190
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Drafters, All Other salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do other drafters make an hour in Lake Charles?
$39.25 an hour on average, and $34.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other drafters salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other drafters take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $64,194 a year ($5,350 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,630.
Do other drafters earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($68,250).
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 17-3019; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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 5.99, this job is 6.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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