Machinists pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,260 or more. The middle half of machinists in Lake Charles earn between $58,530 and $83,060.
- $47K10th
- $59K25th
- $76KMedian
- $83K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,690 | $6,141 | $35.43 |
| Median | $75,580 | $6,298 | $36.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,530 | $4,878 | $28.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,060 | $6,922 | $39.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Machinists in Lake Charles earn 17% more than the Louisiana average ($62,830) and 24% more than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $73,690 | $75,580 | $46,830 | $108,260 | 280 |
| Louisiana | $62,830 | $61,110 | $39,930 | $84,930 | 4,640 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $73,690, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $58,846 a year, or $4,904 a month and $2,263 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 machinists? 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 $73,690 buys what about $85,834 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 1st of 8 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lake Charles$73,690
- New Orleans$69,800
- Baton Rouge$69,030
- Slidell$61,070
- Monroe$60,420
- Lafayette$59,810
- Shreveport$58,970
- Houma$55,760
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Lake Charles?
$35.43 an hour on average, and $36.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $58,846 a year ($4,904 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,690.
Do machinists earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% more than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
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 51-4041; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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