Technology Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Network Engineer Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median network engineer salary in Lake Charles, LA is $75,440 per year, which is 18% below the national median and 5.7% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$75,440
vs State Avg
$-4,600
vs National
$-16,560
Cost of Living
86%

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

Lake Charles offers a median network engineer salary of $75,440, which is $4,600 below the Louisiana state average of $80,040. Compared to the national median of $92,000, 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 $75,440 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $87,721 in an average-cost city. This makes Lake Charles an attractive option for network engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for network engineers in Lake Charles spans from $45,920 at the 10th percentile to $118,900 at the 90th percentile — a $72,980 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $49,200, while senior network engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $113,160. Lake Charles is a smaller market (pop. 80,000), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Network Engineer Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level network engineer earns around $49,200, while experienced professionals earn up to $113,160 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$49,200
$-10,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$77,080
$-16,920 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$113,160
$-24,840 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $45,920
25th Percentile $60,680
Median (50th) $75,440
75th Percentile $96,760
90th Percentile $118,900

Network Engineer Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$86,480
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$80,960
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$77,280
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$74,520
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Network Engineer in Lake Charles

Education

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

Key Skills

CiscoTCP/IPFirewallsVPNNetwork MonitoringCCNA/CCNP

Job Outlook

Nationally, network engineer employment is projected to grow 5% over the next decade (faster than average). Demand in Lake Charles may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Network Engineer Jobs in Lake Charles

Browse open network engineer positions in Lake Charles, LA:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Network Engineer Salary in Lake Charles

How much does a Network Engineer make in Lake Charles, LA? ▼
The median network engineer salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana is $75,440 per year, which is 18% below the national median of $92,000. Salaries range from $45,920 (10th percentile) to $118,900 (90th percentile).
How much does a Network Engineer make per hour in Lake Charles? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $75,440, a network engineer in Lake Charles earns approximately $36 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lake Charles compare to the Louisiana state average for network engineer pay? ▼
Lake Charles's median network engineer salary of $75,440 is 5.7% below the Louisiana state average of $80,040. 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 network engineer salary of $75,440 in Lake Charles has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a network engineer in Lake Charles? ▼
Most network engineer positions in Lake Charles require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Cisco, TCP/IP, Firewalls, VPN. The job market is projected to grow 5% nationally over the next decade.