Lake Charles Employment

Employment and Industries in the Lake Charles, Louisiana Area

The tables here illustrate essential information about work and employment in the area. Information includes:

A table of the most numerous types of work found here, both for jobs generally requiring college degrees and jobs not requiring college degrees.
A table listing those careers significantly more common in Lake Charles than in other US cities; this is useful both for career planning and for understanding the nature of Lake Charles.
A list of the highest-paying jobs in Lake Charles.
A list of any large public companies in Lake Charles.

Most Popular Jobs in Lake Charles, Louisiana Metro Area (2006 data)

Where the Majority of Workers Have College Degrees

Rank	Title	Local Jobs	Local Mean Salary	Typical Local Salary	National Growth % 2006-2016	National % With College Degree
1	Registered nurses	1,630	50,760	$38,160 - 64,290	24%	56%
2	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products	760	43,740	$18,190 - 75,390	8%	51%
3	Accountants and auditors	450	41,050	$23,010 - 59,200	18%	79%
4	Lawyers	330	124,190	$46,570 - 0	11%	99%
5	Managers, all other	280	66,170	$36,660 - 97,860	7%	55%
6	Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	260	42,900	$25,660 - 67,190	5%	58%
7	Financial managers	200	70,850	$38,730 - 114,420	13%	60%
8	Tax preparers	170	20,700	$12,320 - 29,530	0%	54%
9	Sales managers	160	75,360	$33,670 - 0	10%	69%
10	Pharmacists	160	88,950	$68,720 - 114,230	22%	97%
11	Chemical engineers	150	86,030	$61,170 - 116,060	8%	91%
12	Commercial pilots	140	53,880	$35,630 - 77,160	13%	74%
13	Medical and clinical laboratory technologists	130	44,340	$28,220 - 59,190	12%	51%
14	Physical therapists	130	73,430	$41,680 - 105,650	27%	89%
15	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	120	65,250	$32,360 - 100,790	12%	51%
16	Engineering managers	120	111,250	$79,220 - 0	7%	84%
17	Occupational therapists	110	63,470	$46,540 - 90,180	23%	90%
18	Social and human service assistants	110	34,950	$20,510 - 51,340	34%	58%
19	Sales and related workers, all other	110	25,640	$15,860 - 37,960	14%	62%
20	Chief executives	100	124,230	$62,860 - 0	2%	65%
21	Surveyors	90	32,790	$16,970 - 48,410	24%	82%
22	Advertising sales agents	90	39,230	$18,660 - 74,310	20%	56%
23	Chemists	90	65,540	$28,770 - 98,320	9%	93%
24	Computer programmers	90	59,150	$24,470 - 80,670	0%	73%
25	Computer systems analysts	90	50,630	$27,560 - 83,370	29%	68%
26	Medical and health services managers	90	64,910	$42,140 - 93,420	16%	57%
27	Mechanical engineers	90	80,160	$49,110 - 114,850	4%	78%
28	Child, family, and school social workers	90	40,210	$21,460 - 62,180	19%	77%
29	Medical and clinical laboratory technicians	80	27,790	$15,870 - 46,950	15%	51%
30	Financial analysts	70	63,700	$35,020 - 92,090	34%	87%
31	Public relations specialists	70	41,730	$21,430 - 62,140	18%	81%
32	Marketing managers	60	62,920	$40,610 - 101,710	14%	69%
33	Training and development specialists	60	42,310	$22,620 - 61,800	18%	56%
34	Network systems and data communications analysts	60	43,540	$27,510 - 62,420	53%	57%
35	Graphic designers	60	28,130	$17,310 - 43,510	10%	55%
36	Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	60	51,260	$33,180 - 81,720	25%	93%
37	Dietitians and nutritionists	60	32,320	$12,320 - 51,880	9%	72%
38	Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists	60	40,060	$27,900 - 57,770	11%	58%
39	Computer specialists, all other	60	31,710	$23,410 - 44,680	15%	68%
40	Industrial engineers	50	71,650	$59,370 - 92,840	20%	74%
41	Speech-language pathologists	50	62,010	$38,910 - 88,960	11%	98%
42	Purchasing managers	50	62,700	$35,920 - 104,460	3%	57%
43	Mental health and substance abuse social workers	40	39,210	$21,670 - 56,570	30%	77%
44	Counselors, all other	40	26,560	$16,900 - 37,880	17%	73%
45	Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	40	80,850	$44,470 - 100,840	25%	67%
46	Compensation and benefits managers	40	65,800	$41,730 - 93,370	12%	58%
47	Floral designers	40	20,950	$15,670 - 27,940	0%	55%
48	Legislators	40	13,320	$11,450 - 16,020	1%	65%
49	Community and social service specialists, all other	40	37,660	$24,880 - 58,340	25%	58%
50	Mental health counselors	40		$0 - 0	30%	73%
51	Occupational health and safety specialists	40	66,070	$47,390 - 85,440	8%	72%
52	Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors	40	57,470	$31,230 - 93,780	10%	74%
53	Medical and public health social workers	40	40,760	$29,730 - 53,690	24%	77%
54	Veterinarians	40	80,420	$43,200 - 0	35%	100%
55	Market research analysts	40	39,200	$27,080 - 54,880	20%	82%
56	Computer and information systems managers	40	70,900	$38,260 - 100,970	16%	73%
57	Personal financial advisors	30	42,850	$12,000 - 128,930	41%	81%

Where the Majority of Workers Do Not Have College Degrees

Rank	Title	Local Jobs	Local Mean Salary	Typical Local Salary	National Growth % 2006-2016	National % With College Degree
1	Cashiers	3,620	14,830	$11,720 - 19,650	-2%	10%
2	Retail salespersons	2,590	23,520	$12,660 - 41,860	12%	25%
3	Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	2,290	22,050	$14,090 - 34,240	2%	5%
4	Office clerks, general	1,540	17,570	$11,990 - 25,400	13%	19%
5	Secretaries, except legal, medical, and executive	1,530	20,960	$14,350 - 28,850	1%	18%
6	General and operations managers	1,530	71,490	$34,570 - 122,820	2%	48%
7	Waiters and waitresses	1,360	14,220	$11,540 - 17,830	11%	14%
8	Maintenance and repair workers, general	1,320	31,370	$18,580 - 50,700	10%	6%
9	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	1,280	28,420	$18,570 - 38,730	13%	16%
10	Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	1,260	16,960	$11,940 - 22,310	15%	4%
11	Construction laborers	1,250	22,280	$15,920 - 29,430	11%	5%
12	Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	1,250	32,710	$17,910 - 49,340	10%	4%
13	Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	1,180	14,720	$11,700 - 18,940	18%	7%
14	Carpenters	1,080	30,550	$18,500 - 43,490	10%	6%
15	Receptionists and information clerks	1,080	18,710	$13,230 - 25,430	17%	13%
16	Customer service representatives	970	20,940	$15,380 - 28,290	25%	22%
17	First-line supervisors/managers of office and administrative support workers	960	32,740	$20,560 - 49,190	6%	29%
18	Chemical plant and system operators	950	54,340	$42,350 - 68,810	-14%	7%
19	Food preparation workers	910	14,500	$11,600 - 18,730	15%	7%
20	Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	910	14,350	$11,570 - 18,230	18%	5%
21	First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers	880	30,560	$19,870 - 43,410	4%	25%
22	Stock clerks and order fillers	850	18,590	$12,300 - 27,460	-7%	8%
23	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	780	29,010	$21,610 - 36,590	14%	7%
24	Cooks, fast food	770	13,730	$11,470 - 17,020	8%	5%
25	Gaming dealers	730	13,150	$11,260 - 15,190	24%	11%
26	Maids and housekeeping cleaners	690	14,320	$11,530 - 18,880	13%	5%
27	Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	690	37,720	$24,540 - 53,690	11%	4%
28	Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	650	37,000	$19,870 - 54,650	8%	3%
29	Truck drivers, light or delivery services	640	21,070	$13,650 - 28,960	8%	4%
30	Security guards	640	21,060	$12,830 - 30,750	17%	13%
31	Painters, construction and maintenance	620	27,820	$17,300 - 36,510	12%	6%
32	Electricians	620	38,220	$25,010 - 51,940	7%	7%
33	First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	610	49,340	$31,650 - 69,250	9%	10%
34	Police and sheriff's patrol officers	590		$[?] - [?]	11%	33%
35	Executive secretaries and administrative assistants	530	31,070	$20,320 - 44,010	15%	18%
36	First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation and serving workers	520	23,670	$15,730 - 34,590	11%	14%
37	Automotive service technicians and mechanics	470	28,460	$17,220 - 43,910	14%	4%
38	Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	470	39,900	$25,570 - 54,550	5%	2%
39	First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	450	56,370	$27,230 - 84,160	-4%	15%
40	First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	440	52,960	$32,830 - 81,160	7%	13%
41	Structural iron and steel workers	440	44,070	$25,650 - 77,970	6%	4%
42	Counter and rental clerks	430	21,000	$12,420 - 33,470	23%	16%
43	Child care workers	430	14,100	$11,460 - 18,310	18%	15%
44	Business operations specialists, all other	420	40,200	$17,830 - 64,380	21%	49%
45	Tellers	410	19,210	$15,570 - 24,020	14%	16%
46	Bartenders	410	13,980	$11,430 - 17,590	11%	17%
47	Home health aides	390	14,790	$11,660 - 18,890	49%	7%
48	Cooks, restaurant	390	18,230	$12,600 - 25,120	12%	5%
49	Chemical technicians	370	50,350	$30,880 - 63,400	6%	37%
50	Personal and home care aides	350	13,870	$11,630 - 19,920	51%	10%
51	Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	330	26,860	$13,280 - 48,320	4%	6%
52	Landscaping and groundskeeping workers	320	19,420	$12,870 - 27,240	18%	6%
53	Dishwashers	310	14,050	$11,550 - 17,500	10%	3%
54	Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	300	40,020	$16,680 - 68,900	-6%	14%
55	Machinists	300	42,620	$25,250 - 56,450	-2%	3%
56	Cement masons and concrete finishers	290	29,670	$19,310 - 43,550	11%	2%
57	Fire fighters	250		$[?] - [?]	12%	18%
58	Industrial machinery mechanics	250	42,340	$26,800 - 65,260	9%	5%
59	Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall	240	31,030	$17,620 - 43,330	8%	0%
60	Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance	240	28,940	$17,790 - 42,650	2%	11%
61	Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	240	13,610	$11,450 - 16,670	10%	5%
62	Team assemblers	240	21,520	$16,600 - 28,330	0%	5%
63	Industrial truck and tractor operators	240	28,200	$19,110 - 38,790	-1%	2%
64	Chemical equipment operators and tenders	240	46,340	$32,070 - 59,280	-3%	14%
65	Production workers, all other	230	30,080	$19,340 - 51,860	2%	5%
66	Cleaners of vehicles and equipment	230	16,200	$11,870 - 23,650	14%	3%
67	Sailors and marine oilers	220	39,290	$18,210 - 60,810	16%	17%
68	Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers	220	13,890	$11,430 - 17,220	12%	6%
69	Postal service mail carriers	210	44,020	$34,780 - 53,120	1%	11%
70	Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	210	15,530	$11,820 - 20,140	10%	17%
71	Packers and packagers, hand	210	13,380	$11,560 - 15,650	-11%	3%
72	Refuse and recyclable material collectors	200	22,250	$13,880 - 33,080	7%	3%
73	Billing and posting clerks and machine operators	200	21,410	$15,650 - 29,360	4%	15%
74	Medical assistants	190	19,930	$15,480 - 26,850	35%	10%
75	Recreation workers	190	18,010	$11,950 - 24,230	13%	47%
76	Loan officers	190	34,420	$23,540 - 49,530	12%	49%
77	Legal secretaries	180	29,520	$18,020 - 37,820	12%	18%
78	Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists	180	18,760	$12,860 - 24,930	12%	6%
79	Pharmacy technicians	180	23,170	$16,860 - 28,950	32%	16%
80	Radiologic technologists and technicians	170	41,790	$26,070 - 56,990	15%	25%
81	Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines	170	36,770	$24,150 - 50,780	12%	3%
82	Helpers--production workers	170	30,320	$16,010 - 49,610	0%	4%
83	Insurance sales agents	160	45,270	$23,780 - 84,180	13%	45%
84	Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels	160	61,010	$41,290 - 85,560	18%	21%
85	Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	160	23,770	$13,360 - 37,080	19%	14%
86	Parts salespersons	160	26,440	$17,010 - 41,750	-1%	6%
87	All other information and record clerks	160	24,920	$16,120 - 36,980	-12%	21%
88	Paralegals and legal assistants	160	38,270	$22,330 - 54,970	22%	45%
89	Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	150	25,990	$18,340 - 34,790	12%	3%
90	Payroll and timekeeping clerks	150	27,090	$14,750 - 40,480	3%	18%
91	Helpers--carpenters	150	23,740	$14,310 - 34,430	12%	3%
92	Industrial production managers	150	76,260	$48,560 - 110,240	-5%	43%
93	Bill and account collectors	150	23,420	$16,840 - 32,110	23%	13%
94	Amusement and recreation attendants	150	14,140	$11,370 - 20,900	24%	22%
95	Parking lot attendants	150	15,730	$11,550 - 21,720	12%	14%
96	Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop	150	14,060	$11,520 - 18,550	10%	8%
97	Healthcare support workers, all other	140	19,640	$14,090 - 24,220	16%	10%
98	Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products	140	38,360	$23,440 - 63,120	0%	42%
99	Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers	130	19,110	$12,900 - 27,480	12%	0%
100	Medical secretaries	130	20,490	$14,540 - 32,000	17%	18%

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Jobs More Common Near Lake Charles Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs	Pop. vs. Avg.*
Chemical plant and system operators	54,340	950	57.9
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall	31,030	240	24
Gaming dealers	13,150	730	20.9
Sailors and marine oilers	39,290	220	18.7
Structural iron and steel workers	44,070	440	14.9
Chemical equipment operators and tenders	46,340	240	14.4
Commercial pilots	53,880	140	13.9
Chemical technicians	50,350	370	12.5
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels	61,010	160	11.7
Chemical engineers	86,030	150	11.5
Tax preparers	20,700	170	8
Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other		120	6.4
Refuse and recyclable material collectors	22,250	200	4
Painters, construction and maintenance	27,820	620	3.9
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	25,990	150	3.7
Pest control workers	22,060	120	3.6
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	37,000	650	3.3
Helpers--carpenters	23,740	150	3.1
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines	36,770	170	2.8
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	37,720	690	2.7
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	39,900	470	2.6
Cooks, fast food	13,730	770	2.5
Cement masons and concrete finishers	29,670	290	2.4
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance	28,940	240	2.3
Occupational therapists	63,470	110	2.2
Police and sheriff's patrol officers		590	2.2
Fire fighters		250	2.2
Construction laborers	22,280	1,250	2.2
Respiratory therapists	42,540	100	2.1
Industrial machinery mechanics	42,340	250	2.1
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses	29,010	780	2.1
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers	13,610	240	2
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	23,770	160	2
Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health and safety, and transportation	42,900	260	2
Carpenters	30,550	1,080	2
Parking lot attendants	15,730	150	1.9
Food preparation workers	14,500	910	1.9
Cashiers	14,830	3,620	1.9
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	49,340	610	1.9
Maintenance and repair workers, general	31,370	1,320	1.8
Production workers, all other	30,080	230	1.8
Industrial production managers	76,260	150	1.8
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	52,960	440	1.8
Electricians	38,220	620	1.7
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	22,050	2,290	1.7
Radiologic technologists and technicians	41,790	170	1.7
Receptionists and information clerks	18,710	1,080	1.7
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants	14,720	1,180	1.6
Counter and rental clerks	21,000	430	1.6
General and operations managers	71,490	1,530	1.6

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Lake Charles, Louisiana Metro Area (2006 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

Title	Mean Local Salary	Salary Index *	Local Jobs
Production, planning, and expediting clerks	54,830	1.42	110
Helpers--production workers	30,320	1.35	170
Social and human service assistants	34,950	1.32	110
Lawyers	124,190	1.29	330
Chemical technicians	50,350	1.27	370
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers	40,020	1.23	300
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers	39,900	1.2	470
Sailors and marine oilers	39,290	1.2	220
Machinists	42,620	1.2	300
Chemical equipment operators and tenders	46,340	1.15	240
Chemical plant and system operators	54,340	1.15	950
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels	61,010	1.13	160
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	56,370	1.12	450
Engineering managers	111,250	1.12	120
Physical therapists	73,430	1.1	130
Chemical engineers	86,030	1.09	150
Production workers, all other	30,080	1.07	230
First-line supervisors/managers of helpers, laborers, and material movers, hand	43,730	1.07	120
Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders	26,210	1.04	110
Occupational therapists	63,470	1.03	110
Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks	18,920	1.03	110
Helpers--pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	25,990	1.02	150
Dental hygienists	60,540	1.02	120
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks	26,860	1.01	330
Industrial machinery mechanics	42,340	1.01	250
Postal service mail carriers	44,020	1.01	210
Retail salespersons	23,520	1	2,590
Structural iron and steel workers	44,070	1	440
Helpers--carpenters	23,740	1	150
Industrial truck and tractor operators	28,200	1	240
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists	36,650	0.99	120
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	65,250	0.99	120
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	52,960	0.98	440
Food service managers	44,480	0.98	110
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	22,050	0.97	2,290
Maintenance and repair workers, general	31,370	0.96	1,320
Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop	15,530	0.96	210
Counter and rental clerks	21,000	0.96	430
Pharmacists	88,950	0.95	160
Industrial production managers	76,260	0.95	150
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	28,420	0.95	1,280
Paralegals and legal assistants	38,270	0.94	160
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall	31,030	0.94	240
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer	32,710	0.93	1,250
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators	37,000	0.93	650
Driver/sales workers	22,670	0.92	110
Security guards	21,060	0.92	640
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food	14,350	0.91	910
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers	35,080	0.91	110
First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades and extraction workers	49,340	0.9	610

Highest Paying Jobs in Lake Charles, Louisiana Metro Area (2006 data)

Title	Mean Local Salary	Local Jobs
Family and general practitioners	136,910
Chief executives	124,230	100
Lawyers	124,190	330
Engineering managers	111,250	120
Pharmacists	88,950	160
Chemical engineers	86,030	150
Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents	80,850	40
Veterinarians	80,420	40
Mechanical engineers	80,160	90
Civil engineers	78,860
Industrial production managers	76,260	150
Sales managers	75,360	160
Physical therapists	73,430	130
Industrial engineers	71,650	50
General and operations managers	71,490	1,530
Computer and information systems managers	70,900	40
Financial managers	70,850	200
Managers, all other	66,170	280
Occupational health and safety specialists	66,070	40
Compensation and benefits managers	65,800	40
Chemists	65,540	90
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products	65,250	120
Medical and health services managers	64,910	90
Financial analysts	63,700	70
Occupational therapists	63,470	110
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers	63,070	90
Marketing managers	62,920	60
Construction managers	62,830	110
Purchasing managers	62,700	50
Speech-language pathologists	62,010	50
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels	61,010	160
Computer software engineers, systems software	60,900
Dental hygienists	60,540	120
Computer programmers	59,150	90
Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors	57,470	40
First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers	56,370	450
Production, planning, and expediting clerks	54,830	110
Chemical plant and system operators	54,340	950
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators	54,240
Ship engineers	54,220
Commercial pilots	53,880	140
First-line supervisors/managers of transportation and material-moving machine and vehicle operators	53,880	100
First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, installers, and repairers	52,960	440
First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives	51,890	40
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment	51,420
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	51,260	60
Registered nurses	50,760	1,630
Computer systems analysts	50,630	90
Chemical technicians	50,350	370
Construction and building inspectors	49,600	60

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