Civil Engineer Salary in Lake Charles, LA: $100,054 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time civil engineer in Lake Charles, LA earns a median $100,054/year (≈ $48.10/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 17-2051). Once you factor in Lake Charles's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.9), that paycheck buys what $116,542 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.7% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Lake Charles, Louisiana, civil engineers can expect to earn a 2026 median annual salary of $100,054, a figure that indicates a competitive wage considering the local economic context. This salary is part of a broader range, where entry-level positions might start around $43,741 while seasoned professionals can command up to $161,057. These estimates are grounded in 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. The local job market reflects a substantial number of employed civil engineers, approximately 120, signaling steady demand for engineering expertise driven by infrastructure projects and regional development.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,741 | $21.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,448 | $32.43 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $100,054 | $48.10 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $132,311 | $63.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $161,057 | $77.43 |
Median Salary Position
3.32% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lake Charles
In Lake Charles, LA, the civil engineer salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $117,316 (2026 est.). At $100,054, the local median is 3.32% below the national median of $103,492.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lake Charles: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lake Charles Civil Engineer Pay Compares
Lake Charles median: $100,054/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lake Charles Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $101,784 | -1.70% less |
| National Average | $103,492 | -3.32% less |
Civil Engineers in Lake Charles, LA earn a median of $100,054 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.32% lower than the national median of $103,492 and 1.70% below the Louisiana state average of $101,784.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lake Charles has a cost of living 14.15% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lake Charles, LA has a cost-of-living index of 85.852 (below the national average of 100). A civil engineer earning $100,054 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $116,542 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.48% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$76,180
2025 BLS Actual
$97,490
2026 Current Est.
$100,054
2019–2027 Growth
+34.8%
Salary Trajectory for Civil Engineers in Lake Charles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.63% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $76,180 | Actual |
| 2020 | $81,970 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,760 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,440 | Actual |
| 2023 | $104,990 | Actual |
| 2024 | $106,800 | Actual |
| 2025 | $97,490 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $100,054 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $102,685 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lake Charles metropolitan area, the median civil engineer salary grew 28.0% from $76,180 (2019) to $97,490 (2025). At a 2.63% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $102,685 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,505 (34.79%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lake Charles metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.63% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $43,741 – $67,448 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,448 – $100,054 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $100,054 – $132,311 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $132,311 – $161,057 |
CE, PE salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual civil engineer compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Civil Engineer Job Market in Lake Charles
The local job climate presents a favorable backdrop for those navigating the civil engineer pay landscape in Lake Charles, LA, particularly for professionals seeking to maximize their earnings potential. With a cost-of-living index of 85.852, living expenses are below the national average, which enhances take-home purchasing power. Employers such as AECOM and Jacobs often provide higher salaries than regional firms, positioning them as prime options for those looking to scale compensation through specialization, such as structural or transportation engineering. Additionally, achieving a PE license can significantly elevate earnings, as senior roles often demand this credential. To boost pay in this market, civil engineers should network within local firms, pursue additional certifications, and explore project management roles that may leverage increasing infrastructure spending from initiatives like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
More salary data for Lake Charles, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Chen, P.E.
Career Analyst
Jordan Chen has 10 years of experience in structural engineering. He works primarily in urban infrastructure projects.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $97,490 for civil engineersin the Lake Charles metropolitan area. A 2.63% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.63%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for civil engineers (SOC 17-2051).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Chen, P.E., a licensed civil engineer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov