How Much Does an NP Make in Lake Charles, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for NPs 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 NP in Lake Charles, Louisiana earns $61.76 per hour, or $128,460 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $10,705 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $103,770, and the top 10% of earners make over $157,910.
That pay is 2% above the Louisiana figure of $125,600 and 3% below the national figure of $132,300. Lake Charles ranks 2nd of 10 metro areas in Louisiana for NP pay. About 180 NPs work in the Lake Charles area.
NP pay in Lake Charles at a glance
- Typical pay is $61.76 an hour, or $128,460 a year.
- That is 2% above the Louisiana figure, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $103,770; the top 10% make over $157,910.
- Typical pay rose +52% from 2015 to 2025, against +35% for Louisiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an NP make in Lake Charles?
Pay in Lake Charles runs from entry-level positions at around $49.89 an hour to more than $75.92 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
NP pay by career stage in Lake Charles
| Career stage | Lake Charles | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $103,770$49.89 an hour | $99,050$47.62 an hour | $101,340$48.72 an hour |
| First years | $118,670$57.05 an hour | $109,850$52.81 an hour | $117,990$56.73 an hour |
| Typical NP | $128,460$61.76 an hour | $125,600$60.38 an hour | $132,300$63.61 an hour |
| Experienced | $139,940$67.28 an hour | $135,610$65.20 an hour | $156,700$75.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $157,910$75.92 an hour | $159,570$76.72 an hour | $174,420$83.86 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lake Charles area as BLS defines it
NP pay growth in Lake Charles
Typical (median) annual wage for NPs in the Lake Charles area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical NP pay in Lake Charles was $84,670 a year. By 2025 it had reached $128,460, a change of +52%, compared with +35% for Louisiana over the same years.
How Lake Charles compares with other Louisiana cities
Baton Rouge pays NPs the most in Louisiana at $129,070 a year, $610 more than Lake Charles. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lafayette at $120,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lake Charles | NPs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge | $129,070 | $62.05 | 0% | 1,010 |
| 2 | Lake Charles | $128,460 | $61.76 | this city | 180 |
| 3 | Slidell metro incl. Covington · Mandeville | $127,840 | $61.46 | 0% | 390 |
| 4 | Thibodaux metro incl. Houma · Bayou Cane | $127,660 | $61.37 | -1% | 230 |
| 5 | Shreveport metro incl. Bossier City | $125,740 | $60.45 | -2% | 410 |
| 6 | Metairie metro incl. New Orleans | $124,800 | $60.00 | -3% | 1,270 |
| 7 | Monroe | $124,340 | $59.78 | -3% | 340 |
| 8 | Hammond | $123,350 | $59.30 | -4% | 160 |
| 9 | Alexandria | $123,080 | $59.17 | -4% | 230 |
| 10 | Lafayette | $120,930 | $58.14 | -6% | 480 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with NP wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $125,600
Is Lake Charles a good place to work as an NP?
NP pay in Lake Charles sits close to the national figure: $128,460 a year, 3% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lake Charles area, about 1.8 are NP positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.0. NP jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an NP make in Lake Charles, LA?
- A typical NP in Lake Charles earns $128,460 a year, or $61.76 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $103,770 and the top 10% earn over $157,910.
- How much does an NP make an hour in Lake Charles?
- Typical hourly pay for NPs in Lake Charles is $61.76. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $49.89, and the top 10% earn over $75.92 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an NP in Lake Charles?
- Entry-level NP positions in Lake Charles typically offer around $49.89 an hour, or $103,770 a year.
- Is NP pay in Lake Charles higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- Lake Charles pay is 2% above the Louisiana figure of $125,600 a year, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state. Baton Rouge pays the most in Louisiana at $129,070.