Firefighters pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,470 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Lake Charles earn between $29,370 and $46,770.
- $24K10th
- $29K25th
- $30KMedian
- $47K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,000 | $3,250 | $18.75 |
| Median | $29,550 | $2,462 | $14.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,370 | $2,448 | $14.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,770 | $3,898 | $22.49 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Firefighters in Lake Charles earn 7% more than the Louisiana average ($36,610) and 39% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -50% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $39,000 | $29,550 | $23,930 | $61,470 | 240 |
| Louisiana | $36,610 | $33,120 | $22,510 | $56,670 | 5,230 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $39,000, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $32,733 a year, or $2,728 a month and $1,259 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 firefighters? 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 $39,000 buys what about $45,427 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 3rd of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Alexandria pays the most ($44,860).
- Alexandria$44,860
- New Orleans$41,920
- Lake Charles$39,000
- Shreveport$37,290
- Slidell$36,320
- Baton Rouge$35,410
- Lafayette$32,850
- Hammond$30,180
- Houma$29,840
- Monroe$27,260
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Lake Charles?
$18.75 an hour on average, and $14.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $32,733 a year ($2,728 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,000.
Do firefighters earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 39% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 33-2011; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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