Registered Nurses pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,680 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Lake Charles earn between $69,520 and $97,090.
- $63K10th
- $70K25th
- $91KMedian
- $97K75th
- $122K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,570 | $7,464 | $43.06 |
| Median | $90,690 | $7,558 | $43.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,520 | $5,793 | $33.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,090 | $8,091 | $46.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Lake Charles earn 6% more than the Louisiana average ($84,190) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $89,570 | $90,690 | $62,570 | $121,680 | 2,460 |
| Louisiana | $84,190 | $80,230 | $63,800 | $104,740 | 48,970 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $89,570, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $69,542 a year, or $5,795 a month and $2,675 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 registered nurses? 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 $89,570 buys what about $104,331 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 1st of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lake Charles$89,570
- Shreveport$88,850
- New Orleans$86,630
- Lafayette$84,630
- Baton Rouge$84,000
- Alexandria$83,360
- Slidell$82,040
- Hammond$81,910
- Monroe$78,600
- Houma$75,670
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Lake Charles?
$43.06 an hour on average, and $43.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $69,542 a year ($5,795 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,570.
Do registered nurses earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
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 29-1141; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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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