Technology Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median machine learning engineer salary in Lake Charles, LA is $109,060 per year, which is 18% below the national median and 5.7% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$109,060
vs State Avg
$-6,650
vs National
$-23,940
Cost of Living
86%

Machine Learning Engineer Pay in Lake Charles: What to Expect (2026)

Lake Charles offers a median machine learning engineer salary of $109,060, which is $6,650 below the Louisiana state average of $115,710. Compared to the national median of $133,000, 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 $109,060 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $126,814 in an average-cost city. This makes Lake Charles an attractive option for machine learning engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for machine learning engineers in Lake Charles spans from $67,240 at the 10th percentile to $168,100 at the 90th percentile — a $100,860 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $72,160, while senior machine learning engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $157,440. Lake Charles is a smaller market (pop. 80,000), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level machine learning engineer earns around $72,160, while experienced professionals earn up to $157,440 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$72,160
$-15,840 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$110,700
$-24,300 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$157,440
$-34,560 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $67,240
25th Percentile $88,560
Median (50th) $109,060
75th Percentile $137,760
90th Percentile $168,100

Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$125,020
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$117,040
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$111,720
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$107,730
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Machine Learning Engineer in Lake Charles

Education

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

Key Skills

PythonTensorFlow/PyTorchMLOpsStatisticsDeep LearningData Engineering

Job Outlook

Nationally, machine learning engineer employment is projected to grow 40% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Lake Charles may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Lake Charles

Browse open machine learning engineer positions in Lake Charles, LA:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Lake Charles

How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make in Lake Charles, LA? ▼
The median machine learning engineer salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana is $109,060 per year, which is 18% below the national median of $133,000. Salaries range from $67,240 (10th percentile) to $168,100 (90th percentile).
How much does a Machine Learning Engineer make per hour in Lake Charles? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $109,060, a machine learning engineer in Lake Charles earns approximately $52 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lake Charles compare to the Louisiana state average for machine learning engineer pay? ▼
Lake Charles's median machine learning engineer salary of $109,060 is 5.7% below the Louisiana state average of $115,710. 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 machine learning engineer salary of $109,060 in Lake Charles has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a machine learning engineer in Lake Charles? ▼
Most machine learning engineer positions in Lake Charles require a master's degree. Key skills include Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, MLOps, Statistics. The job market is projected to grow 40% nationally over the next decade.