Plumber Hourly Pay in Lake Charles, LA: $33.51 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a plumber working in Lake Charles, LA runs $33.51 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $69,703 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 47-2152). Weighted against Lake Charles's regional price level (BEA RPP 85.9, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $39.04 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $41,825 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Plumbers in Lake Charles, LA, command a median hourly pay of $33.51, which is higher than the national median of $31.45. This competitive rate translates into robust earning potential for both part-time and per-diem workers across various settings, including residential service calls, commercial construction sites, and industrial projects such as hospital mechanical rooms and manufacturing plant piping systems. Entry-level positions start at approximately $22.52, while more experienced plumbers can earn up to $39.75 per hour. This range indicates that plumbers have opportunities to craft flexible work schedules, ranging from full-time employment to three-day workweeks, making it an appealing vocation for those seeking work-life balance. Official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data projected for 2026 emphasizes that these figures reflect the growing demand for skilled plumbing services amid an aging workforce.
Plumber Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.52 | $180.19 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $29.31 | $234.48 |
| Median (P50) | $33.51 | $268.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $36.38 | $291.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $39.75 | $317.98 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lake Charles
Based on $33.51/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $33.51/hr, a plumber working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lake Charles, LA can expect to earn approximately $69,709 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $40,217. With a cost-of-living index of 85.85 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lake Charles.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lake Charles
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,340.55 | $5,809 | $69,709 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $804.33 | $3,485 | $41,825 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $536.22 | $2,324 | $27,883 |
Compare Plumber Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Plumber (Lake Charles) | $33.51 |
| Electrician (National Avg) | $31.97 |
| HVAC Technician (National Avg) | $28.47 |
| Pipefitter / Steamfitter (National Avg) | $32.85 |
| Construction Laborer (National Avg) | $22.95 |
Plumbers in Lake Charles, LA earn a median of $69,703 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.57% higher than the national median of $65,408 and 16.50% above the Louisiana state average of $59,831.
Plumber Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $33.51/hr = $41,825/year (purchasing power: $48,718).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $69,709/year (purchasing power: $81,196).
CoL index: 85.852 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$28.26/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$32.69/hr
2026 Current Est.
$33.51/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+21.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Plumbers in Lake Charles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.52% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28.26/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $28.86/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $30.31/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $30.77/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $31.41/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $34.16/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $32.69/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33.51/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.36/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for plumbers in Lake Charles grew 15.7% from $28.26/hr (2019) to $32.69/hr (2025). At a 2.52% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.36/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem plumbers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lake Charles metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.52% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Plumber in Lake Charles
Considering the earning potential for part-time plumbers working three days a week (24 hours), their gross income could average around $42,790 annually. This contrasts sharply with full-time counterparts who earn significantly more. For per-diem plumbers, particularly those traveling for industrial projects, compensation allows for daily rates of $100 to $175, coupled with an hourly wage that can reach between $40 to $65. Self-employed plumbers in Lake Charles can charge effective rates from $100 to $180, especially in areas experiencing a higher cost of living. Hourly rates vary broadly across different employer types, influenced by whether they work for union contractors, non-union companies, or large service offers like Roto-Rooter. Many plumbers weigh the trade-offs between higher hourly rates without benefits versus more stable positions that offer health insurance. Practical negotiation skills can significantly enhance earning potential, inviting plumbers to request favorable terms based on their experience and specialty credentials.
More salary data for Lake Charles, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Samuel Torres, CWP
Career Analyst
Samuel Torres has 10 years of experience in plumbing. He specializes in residential plumbing systems. He has worked with several home improvement companies.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for plumbers in Lake Charles. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.52%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for plumbers (SOC 47-2152).
Compiled and verified by Samuel Torres, CWP, a licensed plumber with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov