How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in Lake Charles, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for Rad Techs 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 Rad Tech in Lake Charles, Louisiana earns $28.86 per hour, or $60,020 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,002 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,430, and the top 10% of earners make over $76,100.
That pay is 6% below the Louisiana figure of $63,680 and 25% below the national figure of $80,110. Lake Charles ranks 10th of 10 metro areas in Louisiana for Rad Tech pay. About 120 Rad Techs work in the Lake Charles area.
Rad Tech pay in Lake Charles at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.86 an hour, or $60,020 a year.
- That is 6% below the Louisiana figure, ranking 10th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,430; the top 10% make over $76,100.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Rad Tech make in Lake Charles?
Pay in Lake Charles runs from entry-level positions at around $22.80 an hour to more than $36.59 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
Rad Tech pay by career stage in Lake Charles
| Career stage | Lake Charles | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $47,430$22.80 an hour | $50,030$24.05 an hour | $55,980$26.91 an hour |
| First years | $53,770$25.85 an hour | $58,400$28.08 an hour | $64,810$31.16 an hour |
| Typical Rad Tech | $60,020$28.86 an hour | $63,680$30.61 an hour | $80,110$38.52 an hour |
| Experienced | $69,520$33.43 an hour | $76,240$36.66 an hour | $98,750$47.47 an hour |
| Top 10% | $76,100$36.59 an hour | $82,830$39.82 an hour | $118,660$57.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lake Charles area as BLS defines it
Rad Tech pay growth in Lake Charles
Typical (median) annual wage for Rad Techs in the Lake Charles area · BLS OES May estimates, 2019 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2019, typical Rad Tech pay in Lake Charles was $49,030 a year. By 2025 it had reached $60,020.
How Lake Charles compares with other Louisiana cities
New Orleans pays Rad Techs the most in Louisiana at $70,740 a year, $10,720 more than Lake Charles. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lake Charles at $60,020.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lake Charles | Rad Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans metro incl. Metairie | $70,740 | $34.01 | +18% | 770 |
| 2 | Bossier City metro incl. Shreveport | $64,630 | $31.07 | +8% | 320 |
| 3 | Hammond | $64,300 | $30.91 | +7% | 110 |
| 4 | Slidell metro incl. Covington · Mandeville | $63,980 | $30.76 | +7% | 230 |
| 5 | Baton Rouge | $63,450 | $30.50 | +6% | 630 |
| 6 | Alexandria | $62,440 | $30.02 | +4% | 160 |
| 7 | Thibodaux metro incl. Bayou Cane · Houma | $62,200 | $29.90 | +4% | 110 |
| 8 | Lafayette | $61,770 | $29.70 | +3% | 330 |
| 9 | Monroe | $60,060 | $28.88 | 0% | 160 |
| 10 | Lake Charles | $60,020 | $28.86 | this city | 120 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with Rad Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $63,680
Is Lake Charles a good place to work as a Rad Tech?
Rad Techs in Lake Charles earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $60,020 a year, 25% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lake Charles area, about 1.2 are Rad Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. That makes Rad Techs 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 a Rad Tech make in Lake Charles, LA?
- A typical Rad Tech in Lake Charles earns $60,020 a year, or $28.86 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $47,430 and the top 10% earn over $76,100.
- How much does a Rad Tech make an hour in Lake Charles?
- Typical hourly pay for Rad Techs in Lake Charles is $28.86. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.80, and the top 10% earn over $36.59 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Rad Tech in Lake Charles?
- Entry-level Rad Tech positions in Lake Charles typically offer around $22.80 an hour, or $47,430 a year.
- Is Rad Tech pay in Lake Charles higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- Lake Charles pay is 6% below the Louisiana figure of $63,680 a year, ranking 10th of 10 metro areas in the state. New Orleans pays the most in Louisiana at $70,740.