PermanentPosted today
Inpatient Registered Nurse - RN
Fresenius Medical Care · Lake Charles, LA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Registered Nurse jobs in Lake Charles, LA
Pay for registered nurses in the Lake Charles area centers on $37.62 per hour, or about $78,240 a year. The lower quarter earns under $32.25 and the upper quarter over $45.00. That ranks 296th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 136th of 335 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.
- $37.62median pay per hour, Lake Charles
- $32–$45typical range per hour
- 2,610registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Registered Nurse roles in Lake Charles
2 more open roles from employers in Lake Charles. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Outpatient Registered Nurse - RN
Fresenius Medical Care · Lake Charles, LA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Registered Nurse pay in Lake Charles, LA
The metro median is 1% below the Louisiana statewide median of $37.92 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 2,610 registered nurses employed in the Lake Charles metro area, 26.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.22).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.88 | $64,230 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $32.25 | $67,080 | 28% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.62 | $78,240 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $45.00 | $93,600 | in line with U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $56.40 | $117,310 | 25% above U.S. median |
How Lake Charles ranks
- 296th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 136th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 8 Louisiana metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Get the Lake Charles Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Lake Charles, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat 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 $37.62 median hour buys what $43.82 buys at the national price level, 3% 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.
Estimate your Lake Charles paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,354
- Per year: $67,716
- Per month: $5,643
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 registered nurse 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 Registered Nurse roles in Louisiana
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Lake Charles as they open.
Per diemPosted today
RN Admissions PRN
Acadia Healthcare · Covington, LA
$34.00–$42.00/ hour
New this week
Per diemPosted 2 days ago
RN Admissions PRN
Acadia Healthcare · Lafayette, LA
$30.25–$46.43/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
540+ more Registered Nurse roles for you in Louisiana
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PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Registered Nurse
Amedisys · Alexandria, LA
$63k–$82k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Home Based Primary Care- Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Baton Rouge, LA
$74k–$140k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Registered Nurse-Healthcare for Homeless Veterans
Veterans Health Administration · Shreveport, LA
$65k–$130k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Registered Nurse-Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team Outpatient Staff
Veterans Health Administration · Shreveport, LA
$65k–$130k/ year
Top 25% pay
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 registered nurses.
| 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.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Arthur, TX | 46 mi | $39.03/hr | 55,799 |
| Beaumont, TX | 56 mi | $39.03/hr | 112,893 |
| Baytown, TX | 109 mi | $47.02/hr | 86,004 |
| Texas City, TX | 114 mi | $47.02/hr | 57,875 |
| Pasadena, TX | 122 mi | $47.02/hr | 149,617 |
| League City, TX | 124 mi | $47.02/hr | 118,456 |
Registered Nurse jobs in Louisiana · Registered Nurse jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Louisiana
Louisiana is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Louisiana license by endorsement.
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 registered nurses make in Lake Charles, LA?
Registered Nurses in the Lake Charles metro area have a median pay of $37.62 per hour, about $78,240 a year. The middle half earn between $32.25 and $45.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Lake Charles a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Lake Charles ranks 136th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 296th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Where do registered nurses 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 registered nurse?
Louisiana is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Louisiana license by endorsement. 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 registered nurses 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.
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What do employers near Lake Charles pay registered nurses? 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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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportLake Charles, LA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Veterans Health AdministrationShreveport, LA · 3 postings$46.70/ hr$31–$67
- Select MedicalJefferson, LA · 3 postings$44.01/ hr$36–$50
- Acadia HealthcareCovington, LA · 5 postings$38.00/ hr$30–$46
- Louisiana Children's Medical CenterNew Orleans, LA · 9 wage offers$37.00/ hr$30–$44
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$31Median$42.07High$62
13 RN postings with published pay in Louisiana, 12 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 13 RN roles
- RN Admissions PRNPer diem$34.00–$42.00/ hour
- RN Admissions PRNPer diem$30.25–$46.43/ hour
+ 11 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.