Technology Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Data Scientist Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median data scientist salary in Lake Charles, LA is $88,576 per year, which is 18% below the national median and 5.7% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$88,576
vs State Avg
$-5,401
vs National
$-19,444
Cost of Living
86%

Data Scientist Pay in Lake Charles: What to Expect (2026)

Lake Charles offers a median data scientist salary of $88,576, which is $5,401 below the Louisiana state average of $93,977. Compared to the national median of $108,020, 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 $88,576 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $102,995 in an average-cost city. This makes Lake Charles an attractive option for data scientists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data scientists in Lake Charles spans from $50,348 at the 10th percentile to $146,124 at the 90th percentile — a $95,776 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $59,040, while senior data scientists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $135,300. Lake Charles is a smaller market (pop. 80,000), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Data Scientist Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level data scientist earns around $59,040, while experienced professionals earn up to $135,300 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$59,040
$-12,960 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$91,840
$-20,160 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$135,300
$-29,700 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $50,348
25th Percentile $69,044
Median (50th) $88,576
75th Percentile $115,620
90th Percentile $146,124

Data Scientist Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$101,539
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$95,058
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$90,737
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$87,496
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Data Scientist in Lake Charles

Education

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

Key Skills

PythonRSQLMachine LearningStatisticsData Visualization

Job Outlook

Nationally, data scientist employment is projected to grow 35% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Lake Charles may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Scientist Jobs in Lake Charles

Browse open data scientist positions in Lake Charles, LA:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Data Scientist Salary in Lake Charles

How much does a Data Scientist make in Lake Charles, LA? ▼
The median data scientist salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana is $88,576 per year, which is 18% below the national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $50,348 (10th percentile) to $146,124 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Scientist make per hour in Lake Charles? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $88,576, a data scientist in Lake Charles earns approximately $43 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lake Charles compare to the Louisiana state average for data scientist pay? ▼
Lake Charles's median data scientist salary of $88,576 is 5.7% below the Louisiana state average of $93,977. 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 data scientist salary of $88,576 in Lake Charles has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data scientist in Lake Charles? ▼
Most data scientist positions in Lake Charles require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, R, SQL, Machine Learning. The job market is projected to grow 35% nationally over the next decade.