Cost Estimators pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,530 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in Lake Charles earn between $56,980 and $96,030.
- $40K10th
- $57K25th
- $75KMedian
- $96K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,540 | $6,295 | $36.32 |
| Median | $74,570 | $6,214 | $35.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,980 | $4,748 | $27.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,030 | $8,002 | $46.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Cost Estimators salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $75,540, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $60,092 a year, or $5,008 a month and $2,311 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 cost estimators? 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 $75,540 buys what about $87,989 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 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.
Cost Estimators salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 5th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Baton Rouge pays the most ($88,230).
- Baton Rouge$88,230
- New Orleans$83,310
- Lafayette$77,900
- Houma$76,930
- Lake Charles$75,540
- Slidell$74,900
- Alexandria$73,510
- Shreveport$68,540
- Monroe$67,150
- Hammond$66,630
Highest-paying cities for cost estimators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,520).
- San Francisco, CA$109,520
- San Jose, CA$108,990
- Boston, MA$108,390
- Amherst, MA$102,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,290
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Cost Estimators salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in Lake Charles?
$36.32 an hour on average, and $35.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $60,092 a year ($5,008 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,540.
Do cost estimators earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($86,152).
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 13-1051; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 1.28, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.