Helpers--Carpenters Salary in Lake Charles, LA
In Lake Charles, LA, helpers--carpenters earn $39,970 at the median — $19.22 an hour. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.85), which stretches that salary to about $46,558 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,217/month — about 44.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $40K 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 helpers--carpenters
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lake Charles, LA
Entry-level helpers--carpenters (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Carpenters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $50K | +20% | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $49K | +18% | 50 |
| Oregon | $47K | +13% | 260 |
| Washington | $47K | +13% | 1,240 |
| Connecticut | $46K | +11% | N/A |
| California | $46K | +10% | 2,250 |
| Rhode Island | $46K | +10% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $45K | +7% | 140 |
| Virginia | $44K | +5% | 1,610 |
| Maine | $43K | +4% | 270 |
| Georgia | $43K | +4% | 530 |
| Utah | $43K | +4% | 620 |
| Ohio | $43K | +3% | 380 |
| Michigan | $43K | +3% | 290 |
| Florida | $43K | +3% | 2,480 |
| North Carolina | $42K | +2% | 590 |
| Montana | $42K | +0% | 370 |
| New Jersey | $42K | +0% | 430 |
| Kansas | $41K | -2% | 140 |
| New York | $41K | -2% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $41K | -2% | 880 |
| Hawaii | $41K | -3% | 60 |
| Idaho | $41K | -3% | 140 |
| Arizona | $41K | -3% | 610 |
| Tennessee | $40K | -3% | 630 |
| Vermont | $40K | -4% | N/A |
| Texas | $40K | -4% | 2,110 |
| Indiana | $40K | -4% | 280 |
| Maryland | $39K | -6% | 350 |
| Louisiana | $39K | -7% | 670 |
| Nebraska | $38K | -8% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $38K | -8% | 230 |
| Alaska | $38K | -8% | 180 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -10% | N/A |
| Illinois | $37K | -12% | 250 |
| South Carolina | $36K | -12% | 210 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -13% | 90 |
| Alabama | $36K | -13% | 400 |
| West Virginia | $36K | -13% | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | -14% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -15% | N/A |
| Nevada | $35K | -15% | 210 |
| Kentucky | $34K | -19% | 60 |
| Delaware | $33K | -22% | 240 |
| South Dakota | $31K | -26% | 420 |
| Iowa | $28K | -33% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track helpers--carpenters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lake Charles numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do helpers--carpenters make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median is $39,970 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,940, and experienced helpers--carpenters can clear $56,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Lake Charles?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,747/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,217/month, which eats 44.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--carpenters 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 helpers--carpenters salary is worth about $46,558 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--carpenters 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.