Engineering Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Mechanical Engineer Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median mechanical engineer salary in Lake Charles, LA is $82,827 per year, which is 14% below the national median and 5.5% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$82,827
vs State Avg
$-4,815
vs National
$-13,483
Cost of Living
86%

Mechanical Engineer Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level mechanical engineer earns around $55,900, while experienced professionals earn up to $118,680 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$55,900
$-9,100 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$82,560
$-13,440 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$118,680
$-19,320 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $54,524
25th Percentile $67,768
Median (50th) $82,827
75th Percentile $102,856
90th Percentile $125,732

Mechanical Engineer Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$94,384
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$88,605
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$84,753
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$81,864
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Mechanical Engineer in Lake Charles

Education

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

Key Skills

SolidWorks/CADThermodynamicsFEAManufacturingMaterials SciencePE License

Job Outlook

Nationally, mechanical engineer employment is projected to grow 2% over the next decade (as fast as average). Demand in Lake Charles may vary based on local industry and population growth.