Drafters, All Other Salary
The median pay for a drafters, all other in Lake Charles, LA is $71,690/year ($34.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.85), which stretches that salary to about $83,506 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,217/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $72K get you in Lake Charles?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lake Charles’s Regional Price Parity (85.85). 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 drafters, all others
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What this looks like in Lake Charles
Lake Charles sits well above the national pay line for drafters, all other, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,217/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.85 (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 drafters, all others in metros near Lake Charles, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $77K | $85K |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $66K | $71K |
| Lafayette | $60K | $69K |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $61K | $66K |
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 drafters, all others (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Drafters, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Drafters, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $78K | +23% | 350 |
| California | $73K | +16% | 1,750 |
| Wisconsin | $73K | +15% | 200 |
| Washington | $73K | +15% | 520 |
| New York | $72K | +14% | 610 |
| Massachusetts | $72K | +14% | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $71K | +11% | 70 |
| Arizona | $70K | +10% | 430 |
| Utah | $69K | +9% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $68K | +8% | 1,200 |
| Michigan | $68K | +7% | 360 |
| Mississippi | $68K | +7% | 70 |
| Colorado | $67K | +6% | 280 |
| Virginia | $67K | +6% | 170 |
| Connecticut | $67K | +5% | 140 |
| Kansas | $66K | +4% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $63K | -0% | 170 |
| Montana | $63K | -1% | 280 |
| Georgia | $62K | -2% | 550 |
| Nevada | $62K | -2% | 180 |
| Missouri | $62K | -2% | 400 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -4% | 60 |
| Iowa | $61K | -4% | 230 |
| Texas | $60K | -6% | 2,450 |
| Florida | $60K | -6% | 670 |
| Vermont | $60K | -6% | 90 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -6% | 320 |
| Oregon | $59K | -7% | 660 |
| Nebraska | $59K | -8% | 110 |
| Indiana | $59K | -8% | 50 |
| Kentucky | $58K | -9% | 50 |
| Ohio | $58K | -9% | 260 |
| Idaho | $56K | -11% | 60 |
| Maryland | $56K | -12% | 160 |
| Maine | $55K | -13% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $54K | -15% | 250 |
| Illinois | $53K | -16% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $50K | -21% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $48K | -24% | 100 |
| Alabama | $47K | -26% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track drafters, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lake Charles numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drafters, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lake Charles?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,217/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for drafters, all others in Lake Charles?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drafters, all others typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,620/month. At HUD’s $1,217/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is drafters, all other a high-paying job in Lake Charles?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $72K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Lake Charles compare to the national average for drafters, all others?
Lake Charles pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do drafters, all others make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median is $71,690 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,670, and experienced drafters, all others can clear $136,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Lake Charles?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,696/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,217/month, which eats 25.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a drafters, all other salary go in Lake Charles?
Lake Charles has a Regional Price Parity of 85.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median drafters, all other salary is worth about $83,506 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do drafters, all others 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.