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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Ship Engineers | Transportation | $103K | $49.73/hr |
| 62 | Managers, All Other | Management | $103K | $49.59/hr |
| 63 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Engineering | $103K | $49.42/hr |
| 64 | Software Developers | Technology | $103K | $49.42/hr |
| 65 | General and Operations Managers | Management | $102K | $48.94/hr |
| 66 | Power Plant Operators | Production & Manufacturing | $101K | $48.64/hr |
| 67 | Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | Engineering | $100K | $48.26/hr |
| 68 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | Production & Manufacturing | $100K | $48.1/hr |
| 69 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | Management | $100K | $48/hr |
| 70 | Air Traffic Controllers | Transportation | $100K | $47.99/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