Medical Assistant jobs in Lake Charles, LA
Medical Assistants in the Lake Charles area earn a median of $18.00 per hour, about $37,440 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $15.13 and $18.00. That ranks 286th of 380 U.S. metro areas for medical assistant pay, and 153rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles. The free report below lists employers near Lake Charles and what they pay.
- $18.00median pay per hour, Lake Charles
- $15–$18typical range per hour
- 1,520medical assistants employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Assistant pay in Lake Charles, LA
The metro median is 4% above the Louisiana statewide median of $17.24 per hour. Nationally the median is $21.25 per hour. BLS counts about 1,520 medical assistants employed in the Lake Charles metro area, 15.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.94).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $13.40 | $27,870 | 37% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $15.13 | $31,470 | 29% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.00 | $37,440 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $18.00 | $37,440 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $18.00 | $37,440 | 15% below U.S. median |
How Lake Charles ranks
- 286th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 153rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 7 Louisiana metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Lake Charles
- Overall prices in Lake Charles run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 48% below the U.S. average (index 51.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.00 median hour buys what $20.97 buys at the national price level, 1% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Lake Charles Medical Assistant pay report
Named employers near Lake Charles, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Lake Charles paycheck
- Per year: $32,400
- Per month: $2,700
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lake Charles metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Lake Charles
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel medical assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Lake Charles
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital Lake Charles, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Lake Charles, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital Lake Charles, LA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Lake Charles Lake Charles, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Stonebridge Behavioral Hospital Lake Charles, LA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Calcasieu Parish
HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Calcasieu Parish (2 geographic, 1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Medical Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Arthur, TX | 46 mi | $18.08/hr | 55,799 |
| Beaumont, TX | 56 mi | $18.08/hr | 112,893 |
| Baytown, TX | 109 mi | $20.64/hr | 86,004 |
| Texas City, TX | 114 mi | $20.64/hr | 57,875 |
| Pasadena, TX | 122 mi | $20.64/hr | 149,617 |
| League City, TX | 124 mi | $20.64/hr | 118,456 |
Medical Assistant jobs in Louisiana · Medical Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Louisiana
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Louisiana taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Lake Charles
Lake Charles city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical assistants make in Lake Charles, LA?
Medical Assistants in the Lake Charles metro area have a median pay of $18.00 per hour, about $37,440 a year. The middle half earn between $15.13 and $18.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Lake Charles a good place for medical assistants once cost of living is counted?
Lake Charles ranks 153rd of 339 metro areas for medical assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 286th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical assistants work in Lake Charles?
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles, led by Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Louisiana license to work in Lake Charles as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant program or equivalent experience. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Louisiana requires for your role with the Louisiana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Lake Charles in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Calcasieu Parish. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Lake Charles?
The federal per diem benchmark in Lake Charles is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical assistants in Lake Charles?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lake Charles and across Louisiana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lake Charles.
What do employers near Lake Charles pay medical assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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120+ Medical Assistant roles in Louisiana, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Medical Assistant pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Louisiana list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 11 postings$33.96/ hr$27–$41
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 21 postings$31.77/ hr$26–$42
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 11 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$37
- Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$31.60/ hr$26–$34
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Louisiana list
2What they are offering now
1193 Medical Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 1009 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Medical Assistant roles
Open Medical Assistant roles near Lake Charles, LA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.