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Top Paying Jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA (2026)

New Orleans-Metairie, LA has 150 jobs across diverse industries. The highest-paying occupations include Nurse Anesthetists ($230,180), Dentists, General ($208,050), Chief Executives ($164,920). The cost of living index is 92.6 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,331/month.

$144K
Avg. median salary
92.6
Cost of living index
$1,331
Median 2BR rent
N/A
Population

Highest paying careers in New Orleans-Metairie

RankOccupationCategoryMedian salaryHourly
1Nurse AnesthetistsHealthcare$230K$110.66/hr
2Dentists, GeneralHealthcare$208K$100.03/hr
3Chief ExecutivesManagement$165K$79.29/hr
4Natural Sciences ManagersManagement$164K$78.79/hr
5Architectural and Engineering ManagersManagement$163K$78.5/hr
6Commercial PilotsTransportation$154K$/hr
7Petroleum EngineersEngineering$143K$68.94/hr
8Computer Hardware EngineersEngineering$143K$68.7/hr
9Industrial EngineersEngineering$139K$66.89/hr
10Industrial Production ManagersManagement$139K$66.83/hr
11Computer and Information Systems ManagersManagement$135K$65.07/hr
12Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansEngineering$133K$64.14/hr
13Chemical EngineersEngineering$133K$63.97/hr
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsSales$133K$63.85/hr
15LawyersLegal$131K$63.09/hr
16Aerospace EngineersEngineering$130K$62.66/hr
17Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsEngineering$130K$62.46/hr
18Law Teachers, PostsecondaryEducation$129K$/hr
19Sales EngineersSales$129K$62.07/hr
20PharmacistsHealthcare$128K$61.66/hr
21Financial ManagersManagement$128K$61.47/hr
22Nurse PractitionersHealthcare$128K$61.38/hr
23OptometristsHealthcare$127K$60.92/hr
24Physician AssistantsHealthcare$126K$60.81/hr
25Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryEducation$125K$/hr

Affordability snapshot: New Orleans-Metairie

Cost of living vs. national average-7.4% less expensive
Studio apartment (FMR)$/mo
1-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,331/mo
3-bedroom apartment (FMR)$/mo
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