Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary
The median pay for a aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Lake Charles, LA is $77,870/year ($37.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers.
So what does $78K get you in Lake Charles?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lake Charles’s Regional Price Parity (85.9). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About aircraft mechanics and service technicians
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What this looks like in Lake Charles
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians pay in Lake Charles tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,212/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in metros near Lake Charles, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $88K | , |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $82K | , |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $77K | , |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $77K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lake Charles, LA
Entry-level aircraft mechanics and service technicians (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $105K | +32% | 1,900 |
| New York | $103K | +29% | 4,300 |
| Maryland | $101K | +26% | 1,070 |
| Washington | $99K | +24% | 4,480 |
| Connecticut | $97K | +21% | 1,430 |
| Nevada | $95K | +19% | 2,570 |
| Massachusetts | $93K | +16% | 1,410 |
| Alaska | $91K | +14% | 1,470 |
| Hawaii | $91K | +14% | 1,150 |
| California | $86K | +8% | 12,590 |
| New Mexico | $84K | +6% | 860 |
| Texas | $84K | +6% | 16,850 |
| Delaware | $84K | +5% | 240 |
| Oregon | $83K | +4% | 1,080 |
| Alabama | $82K | +3% | 4,310 |
| Virginia | $82K | +3% | 2,260 |
| Colorado | $82K | +3% | 2,690 |
| Minnesota | $82K | +3% | 2,390 |
| Illinois | $82K | +2% | 3,370 |
| Tennessee | $81K | +1% | 4,670 |
| Ohio | $81K | +1% | 2,840 |
| Kansas | $80K | +1% | 1,440 |
| Louisiana | $80K | -0% | 1,150 |
| New Hampshire | $80K | -0% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | -2% | 2,080 |
| North Dakota | $78K | -3% | 200 |
| North Carolina | $77K | -4% | 4,700 |
| Florida | $77K | -4% | 14,850 |
| Vermont | $76K | -4% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $76K | -5% | 150 |
| Georgia | $76K | -5% | 6,720 |
| Arizona | $75K | -6% | 5,670 |
| South Carolina | $75K | -6% | 1,660 |
| Michigan | $75K | -6% | 3,380 |
| Mississippi | $75K | -6% | 1,360 |
| Oklahoma | $74K | -7% | 8,550 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | -7% | 1,270 |
| Missouri | $71K | -11% | 1,700 |
| Rhode Island | $71K | -11% | 120 |
| Utah | $70K | -12% | 2,080 |
| Iowa | $70K | -12% | 330 |
| Kentucky | $68K | -15% | 1,680 |
| Maine | $68K | -15% | 190 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -18% | 720 |
| Montana | $64K | -20% | 310 |
| Nebraska | $64K | -20% | 410 |
| Indiana | $63K | -21% | 1,500 |
| Idaho | $61K | -23% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $57K | -29% | 340 |
| West Virginia | $45K | -43% | 590 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lake Charles numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft mechanics and service technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lake Charles?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 24.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,212/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Lake Charles?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft mechanics and service technicians typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,800/month. At HUD’s $1,212/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is aircraft mechanics and service technician a high-paying job in Lake Charles?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Lake Charles compare to the national average for aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
Lake Charles pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median is $77,870 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,660, and experienced aircraft mechanics and service technicians can clear $100,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Lake Charles?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,037/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,212/month, which eats 24.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary go in Lake Charles?
Lake Charles has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary is worth about $90,652 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aircraft mechanics and service technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.