Carpenter salary in Lake Charles, LA
Carpenters in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median of $45,930 a year ($22.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 630 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,800 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $60,580. Pay here is 8% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $49,920. There are 6.2 carpenters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for carpenters in Lake Charles, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,000 | $15.39 |
| 25th percentile | $33,550 | $16.13 |
| Median | $45,930 | $22.08 |
| 75th percentile | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,800 | $31.15 |
| Average (mean) | $46,750 | $22.48 |
Half of carpenters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,827.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,913.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,766.54 |
| Weekly | $883.27 |
| Hourly | $22.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Carpenter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $55,630 | 3,490 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $50,130 | 1,390 |
| Monroe, LA | $48,400 | 360 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $48,310 | 450 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $48,210 | 400 |
| Lafayette, LA | $47,440 | 580 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $46,920 | 480 |
| Alexandria, LA | $46,760 | 180 |
| Hammond, LA | $45,340 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for carpenters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $85,280 |
| Illinois | $79,000 |
| California | $75,920 |
| Massachusetts | $75,200 |
| Washington | $74,190 |
| Alaska | $73,860 |
| New York | $72,330 |
| Minnesota | $64,930 |
| Connecticut | $64,060 |
| New Jersey | $64,010 |
See Carpenter pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lake Charles, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $45,240 | $21.75 |
| Electrician | $63,620 | $30.59 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $67,990 | $32.69 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $46,810 | $22.50 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $49,270 | $23.69 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $55,580 | $26.72 |
| Glazier | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,180 | $36.14 |
| Helpers--Electricians | $37,930 | $18.23 |
| Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other | $40,750 | $19.59 |
| Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | $45,900 | $22.07 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $58,740 | $28.24 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Lake Charles, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median salary for carpenters in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $45,930 a year, or $22.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid carpenters make in Lake Charles, LA?
The top 10% of carpenters in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn at least $64,800 a year. The top 25% earn $59,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for carpenters in Lake Charles, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,000 a year, and a quarter of carpenters earn $33,550 or less.
How many carpenters work in Lake Charles, LA?
About 630 carpenters are employed in the Lake Charles, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.