Science & Research Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Physicist Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median physicist salary in Lake Charles, LA is $131,090 per year, which is 14% below the national median and 5.5% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$131,090
vs State Avg
$-7,621
vs National
$-21,340
Cost of Living
86%

Physicist Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level physicist earns around $70,520, while experienced professionals earn up to $189,200 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$70,520
$-11,480 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$133,300
$-21,700 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$189,200
$-30,800 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $67,080
25th Percentile $92,880
Median (50th) $131,090
75th Percentile $167,700
90th Percentile $204,680

Physicist Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$149,381
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$140,236
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$134,138
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$129,566
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Physicist in Lake Charles

Education

Most physicist positions require a doctoral degree. Lake Charles and the surrounding Louisiana area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

Mathematical ModelingExperimental PhysicsPython/MATLABData AnalysisScientific WritingLaboratory Equipment

Job Outlook

Nationally, physicist 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.