Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $125,570/year ($60.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $135,605 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,331/month, or 17.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $126K 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New Orleans-Metairie
New Orleans-Metairie sits well above the national pay line for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,331/month, 17.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Orleans-Metairie offers a genuinely strong financial position for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $77K | $84K |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $59K | $70K |
| Lafayette | $79K | $91K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $174K | $177K |
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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $95K spread from bottom to top.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $145K | +42% | 4,900 |
| Rhode Island | $121K | +19% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $120K | +18% | 770 |
| Colorado | $114K | +12% | 1,480 |
| Mississippi | $112K | +10% | 250 |
| Maryland | $111K | +8% | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +6% | 420 |
| Alaska | $107K | +5% | 430 |
| California | $107K | +4% | 3,350 |
| Hawaii | $106K | +4% | 110 |
| Washington | $105K | +3% | 840 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | -1% | N/A |
| Nevada | $100K | -2% | 520 |
| Oregon | $98K | -4% | 380 |
| Illinois | $97K | -5% | 410 |
| North Carolina | $95K | -7% | 570 |
| Florida | $95K | -7% | 660 |
| Delaware | $94K | -8% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $92K | -10% | 440 |
| Idaho | $91K | -11% | 130 |
| Utah | $90K | -12% | 300 |
| Alabama | $89K | -13% | 110 |
| New Mexico | $89K | -13% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $89K | -13% | 300 |
| Virginia | $88K | -13% | 300 |
| Vermont | $87K | -15% | N/A |
| Maine | $87K | -15% | 70 |
| New York | $86K | -15% | 600 |
| South Carolina | $86K | -16% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $86K | -16% | 110 |
| Arizona | $85K | -16% | 550 |
| Pennsylvania | $84K | -17% | 910 |
| North Dakota | $84K | -18% | 100 |
| Missouri | $83K | -18% | 260 |
| Ohio | $81K | -20% | 410 |
| Michigan | $81K | -21% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $81K | -21% | 240 |
| Kansas | $80K | -21% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -23% | 110 |
| Tennessee | $78K | -24% | 230 |
| Kentucky | $78K | -24% | 170 |
| West Virginia | $76K | -25% | 90 |
| Montana | $76K | -26% | 210 |
| Wyoming | $75K | -27% | 220 |
| Iowa | $74K | -27% | 40 |
| Georgia | $74K | -27% | 340 |
| South Dakota | $71K | -30% | 80 |
| Indiana | $68K | -33% | 270 |
| Arkansas | $68K | -33% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $62K | -39% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 17.4% 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,802/month. At HUD’s $1,331/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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer a high-paying job in New Orleans-Metairie?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $126K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $125,570 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,370, and experienced geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers can clear $158,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,652/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 17.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary is worth about $135,605 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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.