Commercial Pilots pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,820 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Lake Charles earn between $81,410 and $106,660.
- $51K10th
- $81K25th
- $100KMedian
- $107K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,420 | $8,452 | — |
| Median | $99,600 | $8,300 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,410 | $6,784 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,660 | $8,888 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial Pilots pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Lake Charles earn 7% less than the Louisiana average ($109,200) and 31% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $101,420 | $99,600 | $50,820 | $158,820 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $109,200 | $95,940 | $46,990 | $169,410 | 910 |
| United States | $146,080 | $123,220 | $58,850 | $266,620 | 47,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial Pilots salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $101,420, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $77,523 a year, or $6,460 a month and $2,982 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 commercial pilots? 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 $101,420 buys what about $118,134 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 4th of 6 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($132,650).
- New Orleans$132,650
- Houma$110,810
- Baton Rouge$104,480
- Lake Charles$101,420
- Lafayette$94,530
- Monroe$89,950
Highest-paying cities for commercial pilots
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($267,680).
- Waterbury, CT$267,680
- Kiryas Joel, NY$226,850
- Bridgeport, CT$226,590
- Santa Rosa, CA$218,810
- Louisville, KY$210,350
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Commercial Pilots salary in Lake Charles: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $77,523 a year ($6,460 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,420.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% less than the U.S. average for this job ($146,080).
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 53-2012; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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 2.19, this job is 2.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.