Mechanical Engineers pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $201,710 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Lake Charles earn between $85,190 and $163,280.
- $76K10th
- $85K25th
- $126KMedian
- $163K75th
- $202K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $128,660 | $10,722 | $61.86 |
| Median | $126,090 | $10,508 | $60.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,190 | $7,099 | $40.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $163,280 | $13,607 | $78.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $128,660, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $95,732 a year, or $7,978 a month and $3,682 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 mechanical engineers? 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 $128,660 buys what about $149,863 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 2nd of 8 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Baton Rouge pays the most ($136,970).
- Baton Rouge$136,970
- Lake Charles$128,660
- Slidell$125,040
- New Orleans$121,080
- Shreveport$111,720
- Houma$99,940
- Lafayette$98,750
- Monroe$98,260
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Mechanical Engineers salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Lake Charles?
$61.86 an hour on average, and $60.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,190, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $95,732 a year ($7,978 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $128,660.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($114,695).
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 17-2141; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.