Dental Salaries in Lake Charles, Louisiana

Dentist: a median of $114,470 a year ($55.03 an hour). That is $56,280 below the Louisiana dentist median of $170,750 and $56,480 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 8th of the 8 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $84,080 a year ($40.42 an hour). That is $1,160 below the Louisiana dental hygienist median of $85,240 and $14,020 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 4th of the 10 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $40,200 a year ($19.33 an hour). That is $3,890 below the Louisiana dental assistant median of $44,090 and $7,870 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 7th of the 10 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Lake Charles dentists earn $97,870 to $181,550. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $66,840 (against $80,530 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $263,990 (against $309,360 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $197,150.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Lake Charles dental hygienists earn $75,570 to $87,460. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $62,950 (against $49,900 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $92,910 (against $98,330 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $29,960.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Lake Charles dental assistants earn $35,020 to $48,850. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $29,400 (against $31,050 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $49,190 (against $49,640 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,790.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Lake Charles metro's 2024 price level at 85.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 14.1% below the national average, and housing costs (index 51.8) run 48.2% below. Louisiana as a whole sits at 88.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $114,470 here buys about what $133,330 buys at national average prices — $37,620 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $84,080 here buys about what $97,940 buys at national average prices — $160 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $40,200 here buys about what $46,820 buys at national average prices — $1,250 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 0.849 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 6% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.06).

Dental Hygienists: about 120 jobs in the metro, or 1.165 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 19% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.81).

Dental Assistants: about 220 jobs in the metro, or 2.186 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 12% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.88).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dentist: Lafayette (63 mi) pays $171,860, Baton Rouge (127 mi) pays $185,430 and Houston, Texas (130 mi) pays $98,570. Lake Charles's $114,470 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Lafayette (63 mi) pays $81,900, Baton Rouge (127 mi) pays $92,700 and Houston, Texas (130 mi) pays $104,930. Lake Charles's $84,080 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Lafayette (63 mi) pays $44,940, Baton Rouge (127 mi) pays $44,800 and Houston, Texas (130 mi) pays $43,730. Lake Charles's $40,200 is below all 3.