How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Lake Charles, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Lake Charles, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Louisiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lake Charles metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Lake Charles, Louisiana earns $18.53 per hour, or $38,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,213 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,440, and the top 10% of earners make over $38,550.
That pay is 6% above the Louisiana figure of $36,320 and 16% below the national figure of $45,690. Lake Charles ranks 1st of 10 metro areas in Louisiana for Medical Assistant pay. About 1,510 Medical Assistants work in the Lake Charles area.
Medical Assistant pay in Lake Charles at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.53 an hour, or $38,550 a year.
- That is 6% above the Louisiana figure, ranking 1st of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,440; the top 10% make over $38,550.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +36% for Louisiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Lake Charles?
Pay in Lake Charles runs from entry-level positions at around $14.63 an hour to more than $18.53 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Lake Charles
| Career stage | Lake Charles | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,440$14.63 an hour | $28,970$13.93 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $34,270$16.47 an hour | $32,020$15.40 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $38,550$18.53 an hour | $36,320$17.46 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $38,550$18.53 an hour | $38,550$18.53 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $38,550$18.53 an hour | $44,460$21.38 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lake Charles area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Lake Charles
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Lake Charles area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Lake Charles was $27,130 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,550, a change of +42%, compared with +36% for Louisiana over the same years.
How Lake Charles compares with other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles pays Medical Assistants the most of any metro area in Louisiana. The lowest-paying area in the state is Alexandria at $34,290.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lake Charles | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles | $38,550 | $18.53 | this city | 1,510 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge | $36,900 | $17.74 | -4% | 2,180 |
| 3 | Metairie metro incl. New Orleans | $36,780 | $17.69 | -5% | 2,870 |
| 4 | Hammond | $36,680 | $17.64 | -5% | 330 |
| 5 | Shreveport metro incl. Bossier City | $36,210 | $17.41 | -6% | 960 |
| 6 | Slidell metro incl. Covington · Mandeville | $35,950 | $17.29 | -7% | 860 |
| 7 | Lafayette | $34,940 | $16.80 | -9% | 1,170 |
| 8 | Monroe | $34,430 | $16.55 | -11% | 550 |
| 9 | Thibodaux metro incl. Bayou Cane · Houma | $34,420 | $16.55 | -11% | 480 |
| 10 | Alexandria | $34,290 | $16.49 | -11% | 430 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $36,320
Is Lake Charles a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Lake Charles earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,550 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lake Charles area, about 15 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on Medical Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Lake Charles, LA?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Lake Charles earns $38,550 a year, or $18.53 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,440 and the top 10% earn over $38,550.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Lake Charles?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Lake Charles is $18.53. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.63, and the top 10% earn over $18.53 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Lake Charles?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Lake Charles typically offer around $14.63 an hour, or $30,440 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Lake Charles higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- Lake Charles pay is 6% above the Louisiana figure of $36,320 a year, ranking 1st of 10 metro areas in the state.