Tax Preparers pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,650 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Lake Charles earn between $27,630 and $52,140.
- $22K10th
- $28K25th
- $36KMedian
- $52K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,390 | $3,449 | $19.90 |
| Median | $36,480 | $3,040 | $17.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,630 | $2,302 | $13.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,140 | $4,345 | $25.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Lake Charles earn 7% less than the Louisiana average ($44,340) and 32% less than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $41,390 | $36,480 | $22,420 | $65,650 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $44,340 | $38,740 | $24,920 | $61,880 | 650 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $41,390, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $34,581 a year, or $2,882 a month and $1,330 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 tax preparers? 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 $41,390 buys what about $48,211 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 2nd of 2 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Shreveport pays the most ($45,270).
- Shreveport$45,270
- Lake Charles$41,390
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Lake Charles?
$19.90 an hour on average, and $17.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $34,581 a year ($2,882 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,390.
Do tax preparers earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.4%.
- 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 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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