Lake Charles, LA · SOC 19-2031

Chemists in Lake Charles

Metro area salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Median Salary

$128,330

per year in Lake Charles

+41% above

National Median

$91,240

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$61.70/hr

median hourly

Employment

180

jobs in Lake Charles

BLS metro-level wage data places Chemists pay in Lake Charles, LA at a median of $128,330 per year ($61.70/hr/hour), drawn from the OEWS May 2025 release for this Metropolitan Statistical Area. Compared to the national median of $91,240, Lake Charles pays +41% above, signaling either concentrated employer demand, a cost-of-living premium, or both. Approximately 180 chemistss are employed across the Lake Charles MSA in SOC 19-2031.

The Lake Charles pay distribution spans from $80,060 at the 10th percentile to $168,460 at the 90th — a 2.1× spread that reflects experience tenure, specialization, employer size, and the difference between public-sector, nonprofit, and private-sector compensation inside the metro. The 25th percentile sits at $98,640 and the 75th at $167,220, so half of Lake Charles-based chemistss earn within that middle band.

Metro figures capture where you actually work, not just where you live — which matters for commuters. BLS draws metro boundaries from the OMB MSA definitions, so Lake Charles, LA covers the central city plus outlying counties tied to the metro economically. Remember that OEWS wages reflect base pay only: employer-provided health insurance, retirement matches, stock options, signing bonuses, overtime, and tips are excluded and can add 20-40% to real total compensation. Before using this metro median as a negotiation anchor, triangulate against the same occupation's national profile (linked below), its state-wide LA data, and peer-metro comparisons — a median is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Salary Range in Lake Charles

Annual Salary Distribution

$80,060$98,640$128,330$167,220$168,460
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$80,060

25th Percentile

$98,640

Median

$128,330

75th Percentile

$167,220

90th Percentile

$168,460

Top Paying Jobs in Lake Charles

Similar Occupations in Lake Charles

Other roles inside the Lake Charles, LA MSA from the same SOC major group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Chemists make in Lake Charles?
The median annual salary for Chemists in Lake Charles, LA is $128,330 ($61.70/hour). The salary range spans from $80,060 at the 10th percentile to $168,460 at the 90th percentile.
Is Lake Charles a good place to work as a Chemists?
Chemists in Lake Charles, LA earns +41% above the national median of $91,240. There are approximately 180 Chemists jobs in this metro area.

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.

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