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Lake Charles, LA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a light truck driver make in Lake Charles, LA?

In the Lake Charles, LA metropolitan area, light truck drivers earned a median of $38,210 a year ($18.37 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 670 of these jobs there. That is 16% below the $45,700 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $25,490 and $82,280; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Louisiana tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $32,122 in take-home pay.

Light truck driver pay in Lake Charles, LA at a glance

Median salary

$38,210$18.37 per hour · $3,184 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$25,490$12.25/hr
25th percentile$31,090$14.95/hr
75th percentile$50,340$24.20/hr
90th percentile$82,280$39.56/hr
Jobs in this metro670Location quotient 1.04 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here16% belowAll-jobs median $45,700
Against Louisiana3% belowStatewide median $39,440
Against the U.S.15% belowNational median $44,860

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-home payWhat $38,000 a year leaves after tax in LouisianaFederal tax, FICA and Louisiana withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $38,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $38,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Louisiana publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Louisiana.

Light truck driver salary in Lake Charles, LA after taxes

$38,210
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,210
Net 84%
Fed 6%
LA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$32,122After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,677Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,235Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,405 / yr
Louisiana state income tax$760 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,923 / yr
Customize deductions in full Louisiana calculator

Light truck drivers pay range in Lake Charles, LA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Lake Charles, LA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What light truck drivers earned in the Lake Charles, LA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (LA)
10th percentile$12.25/hr$2,124$25,490$22,223
25th percentile$14.95/hr$2,591$31,090$26,614
MedianMedian$18.37/hr$3,184$38,210$32,122
75th percentile$24.20/hr$4,195$50,340$41,504
90th percentile$39.56/hr$6,857$82,280$64,632

Is $38,210 a good salary in Lake Charles, LA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for light truck drivers next to both.

Median household income$66,700Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)85.914.1% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household57.3%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

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Light truck drivers pay in other Louisiana metros

Metros in the same state that are closest in size to Lake Charles, LA. A statewide average can hide differences this large.

Light truck driver pay in Lake Charles, LA: common questions

What is the median salary for light truck drivers in Lake Charles, LA?

The BLS median annual wage for light truck drivers in the Lake Charles, LA metro area was $38,210 in May 2025, about $3,184 a month or $18.37 an hour. Statewide, the Louisiana median for this job is $39,440, so the metro pays 3% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for light truck drivers in Lake Charles, LA?

The median hourly wage for light truck drivers in Lake Charles, LA was $18.37 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $12.25 an hour and one in ten earned more than $39.56.

How many light truck drivers work in Lake Charles, LA?

BLS estimated 670 jobs for light truck drivers in the metro in May 2025, or 6.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.04 means the job is about as common here as in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for light truck drivers in Lake Charles, LA?

BLS wage estimates for light truck drivers in Lake Charles, LA run from $25,490 at the 10th percentile to $31,090 at the 25th, $50,340 at the 75th, and $82,280 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do light truck drivers take home after taxes in Lake Charles, LA?

On a median gross salary of $38,210, an estimated $32,122 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,235 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Louisiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,088 (an effective rate of 15.9%).

How much do light truck drivers make per month in Lake Charles, LA?

On the median annual salary of $38,210, gross monthly income is $3,184. After federal, FICA, and Louisiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,677 per month (or $1,235 every two weeks).

Is $38,210 a good salary in Lake Charles, LA?

At $38,210, the median salary for light truck drivers is 57.3% of the Lake Charles, LA median household income ($66,700). It is 16% below the $45,700 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 85.9, so prices here run 14.1% below the U.S. average.