PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Select Medical · Jefferson, LA
$73k–$108k/ year
New this week
Occupational Therapist jobs in Lake Charles, LA
Occupational Therapists in the Lake Charles area earn a median of $43.63 per hour, about $90,760 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $30.30 and $51.33. That ranks 223rd of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 92nd of 327 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Lake Charles.
- $43.63median pay per hour, Lake Charles
- $30–$51typical range per hour
- 90occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Occupational Therapist pay in Lake Charles, LA
The metro median is 3% below the Louisiana statewide median of $45.21 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 90 occupational therapists employed in the Lake Charles metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.87).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $20.74 | $43,140 | 56% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $30.30 | $63,020 | 36% below U.S. median |
| Median | $43.63 | $90,760 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $51.33 | $106,770 | 9% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $64.15 | $133,430 | 36% above U.S. median |
How Lake Charles ranks
- 223rd of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 92nd of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 8 Louisiana metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122), 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 $43.63 median hour buys what $50.82 buys at the national price level, 7% above 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 Occupational Therapist 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
Estimated weekly gross$1,571
- Per year: $78,534
- Per month: $6,544
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 occupational therapist 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).
Open Occupational Therapist roles in Louisiana
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Lake Charles as they open.
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Amedisys · Shreveport, LA
$98k–$124k/ year
For youUpdated weekly
50+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Louisiana
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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 occupational therapists.
| 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.
Occupational Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Arthur, TX | 46 mi | $48.25/hr | 55,799 |
| Beaumont, TX | 56 mi | $48.25/hr | 112,893 |
| Baytown, TX | 109 mi | $48.58/hr | 86,004 |
| Texas City, TX | 114 mi | $48.58/hr | 57,875 |
| Pasadena, TX | 122 mi | $48.58/hr | 149,617 |
| League City, TX | 124 mi | $48.58/hr | 118,456 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in Louisiana · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Louisiana
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. 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 occupational therapists make in Lake Charles, LA?
Occupational Therapists in the Lake Charles metro area have a median pay of $43.63 per hour, about $90,760 a year. The middle half earn between $30.30 and $51.33 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Lake Charles a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Lake Charles ranks 92nd of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 223rd of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do occupational therapists 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 an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. 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.
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 occupational therapists 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.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Lake Charles pay occupational therapists? 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.
Get your free pay report
50+ Occupational Therapist 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.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your OT pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Louisiana list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Lifepoint Rehabilitation Services, LLCMarrero, LA · 1 wage offer$31.00/ hr$31–$31
- AmedisysVenice, FL · 5 postings$78.48/ hr$52–$89
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 4 postings$67.73/ hr$54–$83
- CommonSpirit HealthNORTHRIDGE, CA · 9 postings$64.73/ hr$48–$81
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Louisiana list
2What they are offering now
Low$35Median$48.37High$65
328 OT postings with published pay in the US, 261 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 OT roles
- Occupational TherapistPermanent$73k–$108k/ year
- Occupational TherapistPermanent$98k–$124k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.