How Much Does an MLT Make in Lake Charles, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs 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 MLT in Lake Charles, Louisiana earns $19.79 per hour, or $41,160 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,430 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,970, and the top 10% of earners make over $84,720.
That pay is 24% below the Louisiana figure of $54,460 and 35% below the national figure of $62,930. Lake Charles ranks 10th of 10 metro areas in Louisiana for MLT pay. About 110 MLTs work in the Lake Charles area.
MLT pay in Lake Charles at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.79 an hour, or $41,160 a year.
- That is 24% below the Louisiana figure, ranking 10th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,970; the top 10% make over $84,720.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Lake Charles?
Pay in Lake Charles runs from entry-level positions at around $14.89 an hour to more than $40.73 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Lake Charles
| Career stage | Lake Charles | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,970$14.89 an hour | $33,140$15.93 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $35,760$17.19 an hour | $39,930$19.20 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $41,160$19.79 an hour | $54,460$26.19 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $63,890$30.72 an hour | $69,640$33.48 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $84,720$40.73 an hour | $84,720$40.73 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lake Charles area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Lake Charles
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Lake Charles area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Lake Charles was $48,440 a year. By 2025 it had reached $41,160.
How Lake Charles compares with other Louisiana cities
Alexandria pays MLTs the most in Louisiana at $61,360 a year, $20,200 more than Lake Charles. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lake Charles at $41,160.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lake Charles | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria | $61,360 | $29.50 | +49% | 160 |
| 2 | Bossier City metro incl. Shreveport | $59,940 | $28.82 | +46% | 460 |
| 3 | Monroe | $59,900 | $28.80 | +46% | 180 |
| 4 | Slidell metro incl. Covington · Mandeville | $56,070 | $26.96 | +36% | 150 |
| 5 | Metairie metro incl. New Orleans | $55,540 | $26.70 | +35% | 1,030 |
| 6 | Thibodaux metro incl. Bayou Cane · Houma | $55,460 | $26.66 | +35% | 110 |
| 7 | Baton Rouge | $52,700 | $25.34 | +28% | 700 |
| 8 | Hammond | $49,350 | $23.73 | +20% | 70 |
| 9 | Lafayette | $48,240 | $23.19 | +17% | 290 |
| 10 | Lake Charles | $41,160 | $19.79 | this city | 110 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $54,460
Is Lake Charles a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Lake Charles earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $41,160 a year, 35% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lake Charles area, about 1.1 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.2. That makes MLTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Lake Charles, LA?
- A typical MLT in Lake Charles earns $41,160 a year, or $19.79 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,970 and the top 10% earn over $84,720.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Lake Charles?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Lake Charles is $19.79. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.89, and the top 10% earn over $40.73 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Lake Charles?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Lake Charles typically offer around $14.89 an hour, or $30,970 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Lake Charles higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- Lake Charles pay is 24% below the Louisiana figure of $54,460 a year, ranking 10th of 10 metro areas in the state. Alexandria pays the most in Louisiana at $61,360.