PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $31,140
- Median hourly wage: $14.97
- Total employment: 910 people (9.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lowest-paying jobs in Lake Charles
Uncertainty clouds the current job market. On one hand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports unemployment rates at 4.2% as of May 2025—and that hasn't changed much in the past year, a typical indicator of a positive economy. At the same time, average weekly earnings have increased by 3.9% over the 12 months ending May 2025 to reach $1,243.03.
However, the American economy may soon shift. The Trump administration's federal budget cuts have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs, and constant changes in import tariffs leave companies unable to plan for their future employment needs.
With these factors in mind, minimum or low-wage jobs are increasingly unsustainable for most. In 2025, a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour puts a worker under the poverty threshold, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While states can opt to have higher minimum wages, 20 states are at or below the federal minimum as of 2025.
Salaries can also vary by gender, race, and educational attainment. According to a March 2025 report from the Pew Research Center, women's earnings are about 85% of men's, and women also remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs. Meanwhile, April 2025 BLS data shows that Hispanic workers' median earnings lag behind those of other race and ethnicity groups, and full-time workers without a high school diploma earned the least compared to their more educated counterparts.
It's important to note, though, that low pay doesn't always equal low job satisfaction. Some people feel drawn to a particular field, seek a certain work environment, or aim for work-life balance. No matter the reason, Stacker used BLS data to find the 50 lowest-paying jobs in Lake Charles. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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grivet // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers
- Median annual wage: $31,050
- Median hourly wage: $14.93
- Total employment: 130 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $30,860
- Median hourly wage: $14.84
- Total employment: 360 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $30,510
- Median hourly wage: $14.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Median annual wage: $30,500
- Median hourly wage: $14.66
- Total employment: 260 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Africa Studio // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $30,480
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Nursing assistants
- Median annual wage: $30,470
- Median hourly wage: $14.65
- Total employment: 870 people (8.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Standret // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Counter and rental clerks
- Median annual wage: $30,390
- Median hourly wage: $14.61
- Total employment: 170 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Receptionists and information clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,950
- Median hourly wage: $14.40
- Total employment: 510 people (5.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Order clerks
- Median annual wage: $29,910
- Median hourly wage: $14.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $29,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 600 people (6.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $29,690
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 1,730 people (17.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Goldsithney // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Psychiatric technicians
- Median annual wage: $29,680
- Median hourly wage: $14.27
- Total employment: 70 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Automotive and watercraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $29,530
- Median hourly wage: $14.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cooks, restaurant
- Median annual wage: $29,460
- Median hourly wage: $14.16
- Total employment: 850 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nomad_Soul // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Bakers
- Median annual wage: $28,680
- Median hourly wage: $13.79
- Total employment: 80 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $28,620
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 100 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. File clerks
- Median annual wage: $28,610
- Median hourly wage: $13.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Retail salespersons
- Median annual wage: $28,260
- Median hourly wage: $13.59
- Total employment: 2,590 people (25.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Median annual wage: $27,780
- Median hourly wage: $13.36
- Total employment: 460 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Median annual wage: $27,700
- Median hourly wage: $13.32
- Total employment: 110 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DSBfoto // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $27,380
- Median hourly wage: $13.16
- Total employment: 1,210 people (12.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
KarepaStock // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Grounds maintenance workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,250
- Median hourly wage: $13.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leika production // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Couriers and messengers
- Median annual wage: $27,110
- Median hourly wage: $13.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VH-studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $27,070
- Median hourly wage: $13.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Median annual wage: $26,740
- Median hourly wage: $12.85
- Total employment: 210 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
aboutsung // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
- Median annual wage: $26,140
- Median hourly wage: $12.57
- Total employment: 240 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $24,960
- Median hourly wage: $12.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
- Median annual wage: $24,940
- Median hourly wage: $11.99
- Total employment: 160 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Cashiers
- Median annual wage: $24,640
- Median hourly wage: $11.85
- Total employment: 3,070 people (30.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Maids and housekeeping cleaners
- Median annual wage: $23,480
- Median hourly wage: $11.29
- Total employment: 490 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Food servers, nonrestaurant
- Median annual wage: $23,420
- Median hourly wage: $11.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SviatlanaLaza // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Packers and packagers, hand
- Median annual wage: $23,390
- Median hourly wage: $11.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pearl PhotoPix // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
- Median annual wage: $23,100
- Median hourly wage: $11.11
- Total employment: 170 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Amusement and recreation attendants
- Median annual wage: $23,000
- Median hourly wage: $11.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oksana Shufrych // Shutterstock
36 / 50#14. Recreation workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food preparation workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $22,880
- Median hourly wage: $11.00
- Total employment: 2,150 people (21.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Fast food and counter workers
- Median annual wage: $22,630
- Median hourly wage: $10.88
- Total employment: 1,680 people (16.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Dishwashers
- Median annual wage: $22,390
- Median hourly wage: $10.77
- Total employment: 250 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Childcare workers
- Median annual wage: $22,240
- Median hourly wage: $10.69
- Total employment: 270 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Physical therapist aides
- Median annual wage: $21,720
- Median hourly wage: $10.44
- Total employment: 130 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Home health and personal care aides
- Median annual wage: $21,660
- Median hourly wage: $10.42
- Total employment: 1,800 people (17.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers
- Median annual wage: $21,490
- Median hourly wage: $10.33
- Total employment: 70 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nature's Charm // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Food preparation and serving related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $20,170
- Median hourly wage: $9.70
- Total employment: 210 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop
- Median annual wage: $20,080
- Median hourly wage: $9.65
- Total employment: 610 people (6.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $19,760
- Median hourly wage: $9.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $19,620
- Median hourly wage: $9.43
- Total employment: 750 people (7.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carlovis // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Tour and travel guides
- Median annual wage: $18,430
- Median hourly wage: $8.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Waiters and waitresses
- Median annual wage: $17,670
- Median hourly wage: $8.49
- Total employment: 1,490 people (14.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nick_Nick // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Gambling and sports book writers and runners
- Median annual wage: $15,230
- Median hourly wage: $7.32
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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