Creative & Education Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Archivist Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median archivist salary in Lake Charles, LA is $50,430 per year, which is 14% below the national median and 5.5% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$50,430
vs State Avg
$-2,932
vs National
$-8,210
Cost of Living
86%

Archivist Pay in Lake Charles: What to Expect (2026)

Lake Charles offers a median archivist salary of $50,430, which is $2,932 below the Louisiana state average of $53,362. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Lake Charles pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Lake Charles's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $50,430 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $58,640 in an average-cost city. This makes Lake Charles an attractive option for archivists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for archivists in Lake Charles spans from $30,960 at the 10th percentile to $80,840 at the 90th percentile — a $49,880 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $32,680, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $75,680. Lake Charles is a smaller market (pop. 80,000), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Archivist Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level archivist earns around $32,680, while experienced professionals earn up to $75,680 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$32,680
$-5,320 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$51,600
$-8,400 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$75,680
$-12,320 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $30,960
25th Percentile $39,560
Median (50th) $50,430
75th Percentile $65,360
90th Percentile $80,840

Archivist Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$57,467
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$53,949
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$51,603
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$49,844
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Archivist in Lake Charles

Education

Most archivist positions require a master's degree. Lake Charles and the surrounding Louisiana area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

Archival ScienceCatalogingDigital PreservationResearchDatabase ManagementMetadata

Job Outlook

Nationally, archivist employment is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Demand in Lake Charles may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Archivist Jobs in Lake Charles

Browse open archivist positions in Lake Charles, LA:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Lake Charles

How much does a Archivist make in Lake Charles, LA? ▼
The median archivist salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana is $50,430 per year, which is 14% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $30,960 (10th percentile) to $80,840 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Lake Charles? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $50,430, a archivist in Lake Charles earns approximately $24 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lake Charles compare to the Louisiana state average for archivist pay? ▼
Lake Charles's median archivist salary of $50,430 is 5.5% below the Louisiana state average of $53,362. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Lake Charles, LA? ▼
Lake Charles has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $50,430 in Lake Charles has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Lake Charles? ▼
Most archivist positions in Lake Charles require a master's degree. Key skills include Archival Science, Cataloging, Digital Preservation, Research. The job market is projected to grow 8% nationally over the next decade.