Average salary in Louisiana

The sheer size of Louisiana makes it difficult to define a 'good' salary. The Pelican State is home to diverse cities, each with their own cost of living and earnings potential. Whether you're a current resident or considering a move to Louisiana, it's important to understand the financial landscape. 

Numerous sources rank Louisiana as a state with a relatively low cost of living. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, it ranks as the seventh lowest in the country. As a result, the average salaries in Louisiana may be lower compared to other states, but the purchasing power of those salaries may be higher. But which cities and counties in Louisiana offer the highest average salaries? 

Average salary in Louisiana by city 

City living is often more expensive than living in more rural areas, but it’s also where the money is. Louisiana’s own cities can vary massively in average salary; cities like Metairie average close to $70,000, while Natchitoches’ average sits below $30,000.  

Average earnings by city—or any other geographical metric—is just one way of calculating wealth, and certainly shouldn’t be the only way you look at your own earning potential in a given place. It doesn’t take into account the type of jobs that people do to earn above or below this average bracket, and omits any consideration for the number of people living in a household. However, it’s certainly one way of establishing which place offers good earning opportunities.  

The US Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey has calculated the average earnings for the 20 largest cities in Louisiana, which you can find ranked by size below.  

Average salary in Louisiana by county 

Reviewing average salaries in Louisiana by city is not necessarily an adequate metric for average salaries across the state, since it’s entirely urban focused. A good idea is to weigh these figures up against the average salary in Louisiana by county, as this will take areas outside the main cities into account and offer a broader idea of salary ranges.  

The same survey from the US Census Bureau gives further insight this way, with the average household income calculated for each county.  

Highest paying jobs in Louisiana

There’s another weighty factor that will influence how much you earn if you live in Louisiana: your job type. Average salaries for various sectors and job roles can vary massively across the state, so it’s absolutely something to consider when looking at salaries by location.

Zippia Learn has calculated a comprehensive list of annual salaries by occupation area, which you can also find below.

Frequently asked questions about salaries in Louisiana

What is the average salary in Louisiana by age?
Alongside location and occupation, salaries in Louisiana are also dependent on age, since more senior workers will be paid more. Then, when they retire, their income will dip again as they will rely on pensions and other forms of set income.

The Census Bureau data finds that householders under 25 have a median household income of $33,917; householders aged 24 to 44 years old have a median income of $57,671; those aged 45 to 64 years old have a median income of $67,950; and those 65 and older have a median income of $45,117.

What is a ‘good’ salary in Louisiana?
The median income in Louisiana is $51,073. Defining ‘good’ relies on all sorts of variable factors and these should be taken into account. For example, $80,000 is a far higher salary than the state average, but it may not be considered good in high-cost cities like New Orleans or Baton Rouge.

What is the average salary in Louisiana by hour?
If Americans work an average of 1,801 hours per year—at 37.5 hours a week—then the average hourly salary in Louisiana is $28.36.

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