Average salary by city in Louisiana
- Baton Rouge$61,230
- New Orleans$61,050
- Lake Charles$56,630
- Slidell$56,220
- Houma$55,870
- Shreveport$54,580
- Lafayette$52,120
- Alexandria$51,630
- Hammond$49,160
- Monroe$48,850
Map of Louisiana metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $61,230 | $48,710 | $49,928 | 91 | $248,176 |
| New Orleans | $61,050 | $47,290 | $49,788 | 93 | $261,414 |
| Lake Charles | $56,630 | $45,700 | $46,369 | 86 | $202,237 |
| Slidell | $56,220 | $43,710 | $46,052 | 93 | $272,200 |
| Houma | $55,870 | $45,610 | $45,782 | 85 | $186,622 |
| Shreveport | $54,580 | $44,820 | $44,784 | 85 | $186,193 |
| Lafayette | $52,120 | $41,780 | $42,881 | 87 | $202,312 |
| Alexandria | $51,630 | $40,600 | $42,502 | 86 | $171,604 |
| Hammond | $49,160 | $38,480 | $40,591 | 84 | $225,222 |
| Monroe | $48,850 | $38,150 | $40,351 | 84 | $168,606 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Louisiana
- Physicians, All Other · Baton Rouge$373,800
- Physicians, All Other · Alexandria$343,530
- Physicians, All Other · Slidell$340,340
- Family Medicine Physicians · New Orleans$337,920
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · New Orleans$332,920
- Physicians, All Other · Houma$322,430
- Physicians, All Other · Hammond$322,380
- Physicians, All Other · Lake Charles$298,280
- Physicians, All Other · Shreveport$295,150
- Family Medicine Physicians · Baton Rouge$293,950
Most common jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Jobs in these metros | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 44,270 | $33,770 |
| Registered Nurses | 44,020 | $89,570 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 39,650 | $26,900 |
| Cashiers | 39,380 | $28,580 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 37,940 | $37,070 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 37,540 | $25,960 |
| General and Operations Managers | 37,160 | $136,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 31,580 | $24,030 |
| Food Preparation Workers | 27,810 | $27,140 |
| Office Clerks, General | 27,460 | $36,010 |
Louisiana income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Louisiana's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
Louisiana at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
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Salary in Louisiana: questions
What is the average salary in Louisiana?
$56,446 a year across all jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025), weighted by employment over the state's metro and nonmetro areas.
Which city in Louisiana pays the most?
Baton Rouge, with an average of $61,230 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Louisiana expensive to live in?
BEA puts Louisiana prices 12% below the U.S. average (price parity 88.2). Within the state, Slidell 93, New Orleans 93, Baton Rouge 91 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. State average: all occupations, employment-weighted over every OEWS metro and nonmetro area whose principal state is Louisiana.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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