Engineering Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Petroleum Engineer Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median petroleum engineer salary in Lake Charles, LA is $113,348 per year, which is 14% below the national median and 5.5% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$113,348
vs State Avg
$-6,590
vs National
$-18,452
Cost of Living
86%

Petroleum Engineer Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level petroleum engineer earns around $72,240, while experienced professionals earn up to $167,700 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$72,240
$-11,760 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$115,240
$-18,760 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$167,700
$-27,300 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $68,800
25th Percentile $87,720
Median (50th) $113,348
75th Percentile $144,480
90th Percentile $173,720

Petroleum Engineer Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$129,164
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$121,256
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$115,984
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$112,030
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Petroleum Engineer in Lake Charles

Education

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

Key Skills

Reservoir EngineeringDrillingGeologySimulation SoftwareProject ManagementData Analysis

Job Outlook

Nationally, petroleum engineer 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.