Registered Nurse Salary in Lake Charles, LA
Registered Nurses in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median $90,690 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,296 take-home, or $5,858 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Lake Charles, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,122
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,623
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,315
- Louisiana income tax$2,334
- Take-home pay$70,296
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Lake Charles, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,570 | $30.08 | $50,964 | $4,247 |
| 25th percentile | $69,520 | $33.42 | $56,038 | $4,670 |
| Median (50th) | $90,690 | $43.60 | $70,296 | $5,858 |
| 75th percentile | $97,090 | $46.68 | $74,606 | $6,217 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,680 | $58.50 | $91,168 | $7,597 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $90,690 buys in Lake Charles, LA
Prices in Lake Charles, LA are 14.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 48% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $70,296 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,880 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Lake Charles, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Lake Charles, LA ranks #29 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 29 | Lake Charles, LA | $90,690 | $70,296 | $81,880 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $80,080
- Lafayette, LA — $81,960
- Baton Rouge, LA — $81,130
- New Orleans, LA — $81,850
- Slidell, LA — $81,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $90,690 a year, or about $43.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,520 and $97,090.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Lake Charles, LA?
On the median $90,690 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $70,296 a year ($5,858 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,334 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lake Charles, LA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,880 would in a typical U.S. city. Lake Charles, LA ranks #29 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Lake Charles, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lake Charles, LA is $894 a month ($1,172 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.