Veterinarians pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $153,670 or more. The middle half of veterinarians in Lake Charles earn between $74,430 and $143,210.
- $73K10th
- $74K25th
- $115KMedian
- $143K75th
- $154K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $117,870 | $9,822 | $56.67 |
| Median | $115,210 | $9,601 | $55.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,430 | $6,202 | $35.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $143,210 | $11,934 | $68.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Veterinarians pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Veterinarians in Lake Charles earn 6% less than the Louisiana average ($125,270) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($142,680). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $130,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $117,870 | $115,210 | $72,820 | $153,670 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $125,270 | $124,370 | $64,690 | $165,560 | 950 |
| United States | $142,680 | $130,100 | $73,920 | $215,700 | 83,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Veterinarians salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $117,870, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $88,602 a year, or $7,383 a month and $3,408 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 veterinarians? 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 $117,870 buys what about $137,294 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 1.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Veterinarians salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 7th of 9 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($127,820).
- New Orleans$127,820
- Shreveport$127,720
- Baton Rouge$127,470
- Slidell$126,930
- Lafayette$123,490
- Alexandria$118,490
- Lake Charles$117,870
- Monroe$115,270
- Hammond$111,610
Highest-paying cities for veterinarians
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($215,060).
- Anchorage, AK$215,060
- San Francisco, CA$195,160
- Tucson, AZ$193,390
- San Jose, CA$192,030
- Phoenix, AZ$186,840
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Veterinarians salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do veterinarians make an hour in Lake Charles?
$56.67 an hour on average, and $55.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the veterinarians take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $88,602 a year ($7,383 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $117,870.
Do veterinarians earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($142,680).
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 29-1131; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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