Top Paying Jobs in Louisiana
Louisiana has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 203,750 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Pediatricians, General ($502,720), Anesthesiologists ($410,500), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($404,550). The cost of living index is 87.28 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,191/month.
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State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
$132K
Avg. median salary
87.28
Cost of living index
$1,191
Median 2BR rent
4,590,241
Population
Highest paying careers in Louisiana
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Nurse Midwives | Healthcare | $119K | $57.35/hr |
| 42 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | Engineering | $118K | $56.97/hr |
| 43 | Optometrists | Healthcare | $118K | $56.76/hr |
| 44 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | Transportation | $117K | $56.33/hr |
| 45 | Natural Sciences Managers | Management | $116K | $55.75/hr |
| 46 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | Technology | $115K | $55.39/hr |
| 47 | Sales Managers | Management | $111K | $53.22/hr |
| 48 | Construction Managers | Management | $110K | $52.89/hr |
| 49 | Purchasing Managers | Management | $110K | $52.71/hr |
| 50 | Gas Plant Operators | Production & Manufacturing | $108K | $52.09/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Louisiana
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
Cost of living vs. national average-12.7% less expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,191/mo
Planning a move? Compare costs with other locations:
Metro areas in Louisiana
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.
Alexandria
$994/mo rentRPP 85.7
Baton Rouge$1,204/mo rentRPP 90.8
Hammond$1,109/mo rentRPP 84.5
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux$1,102/mo rentRPP 85.1
Lafayette$992/mo rentRPP 87.2
Lake Charles$1,212/mo rentRPP 85.9
Monroe$1,185/mo rentRPP 83.6
New Orleans-Metairie$1,121/mo rentRPP 92.6
Shreveport-Bossier City$1,243/mo rentRPP 84.8
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington$1,331/mo rentRPP 92.7
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Monthly budget breakdown with HUD and BLS data