Technology Lake Charles, LA Pop. 80,000

Software Engineer Salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana

The median software engineer salary in Lake Charles, LA is $101,844 per year, which is 18% below the national median and 5.7% below the Louisiana state average.

City Median
$101,844
vs State Avg
$-6,210
vs National
$-22,356
Cost of Living
86%

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

Lake Charles offers a median software engineer salary of $101,844, which is $6,210 below the Louisiana state average of $108,054. Compared to the national median of $124,200, 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 $101,844 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $118,423 in an average-cost city. This makes Lake Charles an attractive option for software engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for software engineers in Lake Charles spans from $61,172 at the 10th percentile to $162,836 at the 90th percentile — a $101,664 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $63,960, while senior software engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $151,700. Lake Charles is a smaller market (pop. 80,000), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Software Engineer Salary in Lake Charles by Experience

In Lake Charles, an entry-level software engineer earns around $63,960, while experienced professionals earn up to $151,700 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$63,960
$-14,040 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$102,500
$-22,500 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$151,700
$-33,300 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Lake Charles, LA

Percentile Lake Charles
10th Percentile $61,172
25th Percentile $80,524
Median (50th) $101,844
75th Percentile $129,724
90th Percentile $162,836

Software Engineer Salary in Other Louisiana Cities

New Orleans, LA
$116,748
Pop. 383,997
Baton Rouge, LA
$109,296
Pop. 227,470
Lafayette, LA
$104,328
Pop. 121,374
Shreveport, LA
$100,602
Pop. 187,593

How to Become a Software Engineer in Lake Charles

Education

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

Key Skills

PythonJavaScriptSQLGitCloud PlatformsSystem Design

Job Outlook

Nationally, software engineer employment is projected to grow 25% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Lake Charles may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Software Engineer Jobs in Lake Charles

Browse open software engineer positions in Lake Charles, LA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Software Engineer Salary in Lake Charles

How much does a Software Engineer make in Lake Charles, LA? ▼
The median software engineer salary in Lake Charles, Louisiana is $101,844 per year, which is 18% below the national median of $124,200. Salaries range from $61,172 (10th percentile) to $162,836 (90th percentile).
How much does a Software Engineer make per hour in Lake Charles? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $101,844, a software engineer in Lake Charles earns approximately $49 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Lake Charles compare to the Louisiana state average for software engineer pay? ▼
Lake Charles's median software engineer salary of $101,844 is 5.7% below the Louisiana state average of $108,054. 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 software engineer salary of $101,844 in Lake Charles has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a software engineer in Lake Charles? ▼
Most software engineer positions in Lake Charles require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, JavaScript, SQL, Git. The job market is projected to grow 25% nationally over the next decade.