SOC 43-5032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — Lake Charles
Lake Charles, LA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in Lake Charles, LA is $51,390 per year, close to the national median of $50,340 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in Lake Charles, LA is $51,390 per year, close to the national median of $50,340 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $35,550 at the tenth percentile to more than $74,650 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $37,200 to $63,340.
Employment stands at 130, or 1.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Houma leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $50,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 131st of 277 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,550 | −29.4% |
| 25th | $37,200 | −26.1% |
| Median (50th) | $51,390 | +2.1% |
| 75th | $63,340 | +25.8% |
| 90th | $74,650 | +48.3% |
| Mean | $53,700 | +6.7% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houma | $50,460 | 190 | |
| 2 | Slidell | $49,920 | 120 | |
| 3 | Lafayette | $49,070 | 390 | |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | $46,930 | 500 | |
| 5 | Shreveport | $46,610 | 300 | |
| 6 | New Orleans | $46,360 | 770 | |
| 7 | Hammond | $43,480 | 60 | |
| 8 | Alexandria | $42,410 | 50 | |
| 9 | Monroe | $42,010 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lake Charles run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $51,390 goes as far as $58,265 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,265US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,390 a year, 2.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,550 to $74,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Houma, at $50,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance in Lake Charles, LA?
The median annual wage is $51,390, or $24.71 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $50,340, so pay in Lake Charles, LA is 2.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Lake Charles, LA earns more than $74,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,550 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Houma, at $50,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Lake Charles, LA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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