High paying jobs in Louisiana

Every occupation below is ranked by its median annual wage in Louisiana. The percentile range matters more than the median on its own: it shows what the bottom and top of each field actually earn, which a single average hides.

Cost of living: prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average (2024), so a Louisiana salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Louisiana.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Louisiana

OccupationMedian, Louisiana · Employed

1Physicians, All Other$350,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,980 – $463,2704,740
2Family Medicine Physicians$255,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$118,970 – $464,4101,090
3Nurse Anesthetists$222,130
Master's degree
$176,660 – $304,640900
4Dentists, General$170,750
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,530 – $309,3601,500
5Architectural and Engineering Managers$162,850
Bachelor's degree
$119,600 – $218,9701,840
6Petroleum Engineers$139,640
Bachelor's degree
$43,440 – $221,800710
7Chemical Engineers$134,800
Bachelor's degree
$75,500 – $177,790730
8Industrial Production Managers$133,210
Bachelor's degree
$79,350 – $213,3502,680
9Pharmacists$132,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,920 – $156,7405,610
10Business Teachers, Postsecondary$129,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,030 – $218,880640
11Physician Assistants$128,870
Master's degree
$100,920 – $162,2001,360
12Computer and Information Systems Managers$127,500
Bachelor's degree
$80,390 – $200,8702,860
13Financial Managers$126,800
Bachelor's degree
$78,040 – $220,8707,070
14Nurse Practitioners$125,600
Master's degree
$99,050 – $159,5705,380
15Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$125,130
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,470 – $282,7402,250
16Veterinarians$124,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,690 – $165,560950
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$124,200
Bachelor's degree
$52,760 – $183,8502,340
18Electrical Engineers$123,710
Bachelor's degree
$77,210 – $178,330990
19Industrial Engineers$122,920
Bachelor's degree
$78,540 – $173,6701,710
20Marketing Managers$120,650
Bachelor's degree
$72,800 – $208,180940
21Mechanical Engineers$119,540
Bachelor's degree
$70,350 – $181,5501,890
22Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$117,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,480 – $206,8606,830
23Sales Managers$110,700
Bachelor's degree
$61,040 – $217,6004,360
24Construction Managers$110,010
Bachelor's degree
$66,790 – $173,9105,530
25Gas Plant Operators$108,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,890 – $115,390800
26Human Resources Managers$107,880
Bachelor's degree
$75,690 – $177,8701,390
27Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$106,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $111,0603,490
28Civil Engineers$105,380
Bachelor's degree
$64,570 – $156,6103,780
29Medical and Health Services Managers$104,550
Bachelor's degree
$66,980 – $205,7807,470
30Lawyers$104,100
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,140 – $227,23010,200
31Chemists$103,890
Bachelor's degree
$58,310 – $168,460740
32Managers, All Other$103,140
Bachelor's degree
$58,900 – $175,65013,220
33Software Developers$102,800
Bachelor's degree
$66,350 – $151,7804,080
34General and Operations Managers$101,790
Bachelor's degree
$50,470 – $219,24043,220
35Chemical Plant and System Operators$100,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,890 – $122,5603,400
36Administrative Services Managers$99,210
Bachelor's degree
$61,600 – $170,7903,260
37Engineers, All Other$99,070
Bachelor's degree
$63,140 – $162,0006,310
38Education Administrators, Postsecondary$98,840
Master's degree
$61,880 – $214,2703,670
39Physical Therapists$98,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,150 – $127,6403,280
40Occupational Therapists$98,490
Master's degree
$61,070 – $126,6302,060
41Facilities Managers$97,120
Bachelor's degree
$62,370 – $163,1701,160
42Commercial Pilots$95,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,990 – $169,410910
43Computer Systems Analysts$95,660
Bachelor's degree
$60,960 – $141,8402,980
44Management Analysts$95,540
Bachelor's degree
$57,590 – $167,9804,760
45Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$93,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,220 – $154,2402,840
46Information Security Analysts$92,990
Bachelor's degree
$66,660 – $139,190720
47Network and Computer Systems Administrators$90,160
Bachelor's degree
$60,200 – $131,9101,790
48Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$89,560
Bachelor's degree
$60,260 – $132,4102,380
49Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$86,980
No formal educational credential
$45,770 – $98,840890
50Chemical Technicians$85,850
Associate's degree
$47,690 – $111,950960

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianLouisiana	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$350,920	$71,980 – $463,270	4,740
2	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$255,330	$118,970 – $464,410	1,090
3	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$222,130	$176,660 – $304,640	900
4	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$170,750	$80,530 – $309,360	1,500
5	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$162,850	$119,600 – $218,970	1,840
6	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$139,640	$43,440 – $221,800	710
7	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$134,800	$75,500 – $177,790	730
8	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,210	$79,350 – $213,350	2,680
9	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$132,410	$100,920 – $156,740	5,610
10	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$129,040	$58,030 – $218,880	640
11	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$128,870	$100,920 – $162,200	1,360
12	Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree	$127,500	$80,390 – $200,870	2,860
13	Financial ManagersBachelor's degree	$126,800	$78,040 – $220,870	7,070
14	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$125,600	$99,050 – $159,570	5,380
15	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$125,130	$63,470 – $282,740	2,250
16	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$124,370	$64,690 – $165,560	950
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$124,200	$52,760 – $183,850	2,340
18	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$123,710	$77,210 – $178,330	990
19	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$122,920	$78,540 – $173,670	1,710
20	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,650	$72,800 – $208,180	940
21	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$119,540	$70,350 – $181,550	1,890
22	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$117,160	$60,480 – $206,860	6,830
23	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$110,700	$61,040 – $217,600	4,360
24	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$110,010	$66,790 – $173,910	5,530
25	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,350	$50,890 – $115,390	800
26	Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree	$107,880	$75,690 – $177,870	1,390
27	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,640	$42,160 – $111,060	3,490
28	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$105,380	$64,570 – $156,610	3,780
29	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$104,550	$66,980 – $205,780	7,470
30	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$104,100	$50,140 – $227,230	10,200
31	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$103,890	$58,310 – $168,460	740
32	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$103,140	$58,900 – $175,650	13,220
33	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$102,800	$66,350 – $151,780	4,080
34	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$101,790	$50,470 – $219,240	43,220
35	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,060	$62,890 – $122,560	3,400
36	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$99,210	$61,600 – $170,790	3,260
37	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$99,070	$63,140 – $162,000	6,310
38	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$98,840	$61,880 – $214,270	3,670
39	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$98,530	$60,150 – $127,640	3,280
40	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$98,490	$61,070 – $126,630	2,060
41	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$97,120	$62,370 – $163,170	1,160
42	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,940	$46,990 – $169,410	910
43	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,660	$60,960 – $141,840	2,980
44	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,540	$57,590 – $167,980	4,760
45	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,650	$54,220 – $154,240	2,840
46	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$92,990	$66,660 – $139,190	720
47	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$90,160	$60,200 – $131,910	1,790
48	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$89,560	$60,260 – $132,410	2,380
49	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$86,980	$45,770 – $98,840	890
50	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,850	$47,690 – $111,950	960

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Louisiana. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Louisiana

Metro areas in Louisiana

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Louisiana

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Louisiana to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Louisiana

More for Louisiana

Metro areas in Louisiana

By field in Louisiana

Without a degree

By state