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
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 #43 of 370 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 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 43 | 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 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Alexandria, LA — $81,680
- Shreveport, LA — $80,080
- Monroe, LA — $78,270
- Lafayette, LA — $81,960
- Hammond, LA — $76,200
- Houma, LA — $75,740
- Baton Rouge, LA — $81,130
- New Orleans, LA — $81,850
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 #43 of 370 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%.