Bartenders pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $34,480 or more. The middle half of bartenders in Lake Charles earn between $15,080 and $25,720.
- $15K10th
- $15K25th
- $18KMedian
- $26K75th
- $34K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $22,980 | $1,915 | $11.05 |
| Median | $18,280 | $1,523 | $8.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $15,080 | $1,257 | $7.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $25,720 | $2,143 | $12.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bartenders pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Bartenders in Lake Charles earn 9% less than the Louisiana average ($25,250) and 44% less than the U.S. average ($40,790). At the median the gap is -47% against the U.S. median of $34,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $22,980 | $18,280 | $15,080 | $34,480 | 550 |
| Louisiana | $25,250 | $20,850 | $15,080 | $41,600 | 10,140 |
| United States | $40,790 | $34,340 | $20,110 | $73,770 | 756,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bartenders salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $22,980, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $20,231 a year, or $1,686 a month and $778 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% 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 bartenders? 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 $22,980 buys what about $26,767 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Bartenders salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 10th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($27,000).
- New Orleans$27,000
- Hammond$25,600
- Monroe$25,080
- Slidell$24,790
- Baton Rouge$24,630
- Houma$24,320
- Lafayette$23,750
- Shreveport$23,570
- Alexandria$23,280
- Lake Charles$22,980
Highest-paying cities for bartenders
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,360).
- Kahului, HI$91,360
- Honolulu, HI$72,660
- New York, NY$63,630
- Seattle, WA$62,090
- Portland, ME$60,600
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Bartenders salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do bartenders make an hour in Lake Charles?
$11.05 an hour on average, and $8.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bartenders salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $15,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $15,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bartenders take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $20,231 a year ($1,686 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $22,980.
Do bartenders earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 44% less than the U.S. average for this job ($40,790).
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 35-3011; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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