Epidemiologists Salary
In Louisiana, epidemiologists earn $73,850 at the median, or about $35.51 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $84,613 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $74K actually covers in Louisiana, month by month
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Pay for epidemiologists in Louisiana runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $87K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 24.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Louisiana can be a reasonable trade-off for epidemiologists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Epidemiologists salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $81K | +10% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 24.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for epidemiologists in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new epidemiologists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,373/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is epidemiologist a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $74K here vs. $87K nationally. Cost of living is 13% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for epidemiologists?
Louisiana pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $87K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do epidemiologists make in Louisiana?
The median is $73,850 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,740, and experienced epidemiologists can clear $105,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,815/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 24.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a epidemiologists salary go in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median epidemiologists salary is worth about $84,613 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do epidemiologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.