Healthcare jobs and pay in Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles healthcare pay by profession, from the BLS metro-area wage data, with cost of living, hospitals and what travel assignments pay here. Registered nurses earn a median of $37.62 per hour. The free report adds named employers and open roles.
What healthcare pays in Lake Charles
| Profession | Median / hr | Typical range / hr | Median / year | Employed in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $37.62 | $32–$45 | $78,240 | 2,610 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $24.73 | $24–$28 | $51,430 | 1,200 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $14.65 | $14–$16 | $30,470 | 870 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $61.24 | $53–$66 | $127,380 | 110 |
| CRNA | $108.39 | $101–$115+ | $225,440 | — |
| Radiologic Technologist | $30.33 | $25–$32 | $63,090 | 110 |
| CT Technologist | $30.33 | $25–$32 | $63,090 | 110 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $36.59 | $32–$38 | $76,100 | 50 |
| Surgical Technologist | $25.25 | $23–$31 | $52,530 | 50 |
| Physical Therapist | $44.98 | $36–$53 | $93,560 | 140 |
| Occupational Therapist | $43.63 | $30–$51 | $90,760 | 90 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $30.02 | $25–$38 | $62,450 | 210 |
| Medical Coder | $21.07 | $17–$29 | $43,820 | — |
| CDI Specialist | $26.67 | $19–$36 | $55,470 | — |
| Utilization Review Nurse | $37.62 | $32–$45 | $78,240 | 2,610 |
| Telehealth / Triage Nurse | $37.62 | $32–$45 | $78,240 | 2,610 |
| Patient Access Representative | $14.40 | $11–$17 | $29,950 | 510 |
| EHR / Epic Analyst | $46.59 | $36–$55 | $96,910 | 50 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | $31.05 | $22–$48 | $64,570 | 140 |
| Pharmacist | $62.34 | $50–$67 | $129,670 | 190 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $19.06 | $17–$23 | $39,640 | 250 |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | $18.21 | $16–$31 | $37,870 | 130 |
| Phlebotomist | $17.19 | $15–$18 | $35,760 | 80 |
| Nurse Informaticist | $37.62 | $32–$45 | $78,240 | 2,610 |
| Healthcare IT Support Specialist | $24.00 | $21–$32 | $49,920 | 130 |
| Biomedical Equipment Technician | $29.27 | $21–$36 | $60,880 | — |
| MRI Technologist | $34.48 | $30–$40 | $71,730 | — |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $36.73 | $30–$40 | $76,400 | — |
| Echocardiography Technologist | $31.28 | $19–$44 | $65,060 | 30 |
| Cath Lab Technologist | $31.28 | $19–$44 | $65,060 | 30 |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $39.68 | $37–$45 | $82,540 | — |
| Physician Assistant | $62.31 | $51–$69 | $129,610 | — |
| Nurse Case Manager | $37.62 | $32–$45 | $78,240 | 2,610 |
| Nurse Manager & Leadership | $44.65 | $37–$51 | $92,870 | 140 |
| Registered Dietitian | $33.87 | $29–$40 | $70,440 | — |
| Clinical Social Worker | $30.95 | $28–$37 | $64,380 | — |
| Medical Assistant | $18.00 | $15–$18 | $37,440 | 1,520 |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $9.50 | $10–$19 | $19,760 | 40 |
| Medical Biller | $18.73 | $17–$22 | $38,950 | 190 |
| Dentist | $45.76 | $41–$84 | $95,180 | 70 |
| Dental Specialist | $115+ | $107–$115+ | $239,200+ | — |
| Dental Hygienist | $38.81 | $31–$44 | $80,730 | 70 |
| Dental Assistant | $18.63 | $14–$23 | $38,750 | 230 |
| Dental Office Manager | $44.65 | $37–$51 | $92,870 | 140 |
| Dental Front Office & Treatment Coordinator | $15.53 | $15–$18 | $32,300 | 200 |
| Dental Lab Technician | $17.65 | $14–$23 | $36,720 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, for the Lake Charles metro area (statewide where the metro figure is not published). Pick a profession for the full pay breakdown, rankings and open roles.
Cost of living in Lake Charles
- Overall prices in Lake Charles run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9).
- Housing runs 48% below the U.S. average (index 51.8).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Travel assignment per diem in Lake Charles
The federal per diem benchmark for travel assignments 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). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on your tax home. See the travel pay calculator.
Hospitals in Lake Charles
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Lake Charles Memorial Hospital | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Oceans Behavioral Hospital Of Lake Charles | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Stonebridge Behavioral Hospital | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Cities near Lake Charles
| City | Distance | RN 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 |
Common questions
How much do healthcare workers make in Lake Charles?
Registered nurses in the Lake Charles metro area earn a median of $37.62 per hour, about $78,240 a year (BLS, May 2024). The table above lists 46 professions with their own medians and ranges.
How many hospitals are in Lake Charles?
CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Does Valorem Health place staff 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? 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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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
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.