Epidemiologists Salary
In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, epidemiologists earn $81,240 at the median, or about $39.06 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $87,732 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,331/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $81K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About epidemiologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Orleans-Metairie
Epidemiologists pay in New Orleans-Metairie tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $87K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,331/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for epidemiologists in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $77K | $78K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $69K | $71K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $79K | $77K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $73K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Epidemiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Epidemiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $116K | +33% | 660 |
| District of Columbia | $112K | +29% | 90 |
| California | $111K | +27% | 1,480 |
| New Jersey | $110K | +26% | 290 |
| Washington | $108K | +24% | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $104K | +20% | 310 |
| Illinois | $103K | +18% | 240 |
| Maryland | $102K | +17% | 600 |
| Nevada | $100K | +15% | 80 |
| Tennessee | $97K | +12% | 220 |
| Oregon | $94K | +7% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $89K | +2% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $88K | +1% | 360 |
| Michigan | $85K | -3% | 280 |
| Virginia | $85K | -3% | 220 |
| North Carolina | $85K | -3% | 220 |
| South Carolina | $85K | -3% | 50 |
| Connecticut | $84K | -4% | 160 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -5% | 80 |
| New York | $80K | -8% | 670 |
| New Mexico | $80K | -8% | 80 |
| Iowa | $80K | -8% | 90 |
| Kansas | $80K | -9% | 70 |
| Montana | $80K | -9% | 100 |
| Florida | $79K | -9% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -10% | 120 |
| Indiana | $77K | -11% | 170 |
| Texas | $77K | -12% | 1,160 |
| Utah | $77K | -12% | 190 |
| Hawaii | $77K | -12% | 70 |
| Ohio | $76K | -12% | 300 |
| Alabama | $75K | -14% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $74K | -15% | 120 |
| Colorado | $74K | -15% | 430 |
| Oklahoma | $73K | -17% | 120 |
| Georgia | $71K | -19% | 510 |
| West Virginia | $71K | -19% | 100 |
| Maine | $69K | -21% | 60 |
| Arizona | $67K | -23% | 340 |
| Missouri | $67K | -23% | 120 |
| Idaho | $66K | -24% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -35% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track epidemiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,331/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for epidemiologists in New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new epidemiologists typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,375/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $87K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for epidemiologists?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $87K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do epidemiologists make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $81,240 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,250, and experienced epidemiologists can clear $109,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,222/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 25.5% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $87,732 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.