High paying jobs in Louisiana that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Louisiana and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$117,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,480 – $206,8606,830
2Gas Plant Operators$108,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,890 – $115,390800
3Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$106,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $111,0603,490
4Chemical Plant and System Operators$100,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,890 – $122,5603,400
5Commercial Pilots$95,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,990 – $169,410910
6Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$93,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,220 – $154,2402,840
7Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$86,980
No formal educational credential
$45,770 – $98,840890
8Chemical Technicians$85,850
Associate's degree
$47,690 – $111,950960
9Dental Hygienists$85,240
Associate's degree
$49,900 – $98,3302,690
10Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,990
Associate's degree
$48,940 – $116,0801,000
11Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,710
Associate's degree
$62,900 – $98,5001,150
12Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,930 – $94,8003,060
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$79,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,840 – $107,8301,150
14Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$78,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $111,2106,430
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,670 – $147,4409,350
16Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,200 – $117,9902,520
17First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $128,92010,490
18First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,920 – $104,40014,070
19Respiratory Therapists$75,240
Associate's degree
$61,520 – $91,2002,520
20Boilermakers$73,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,390 – $77,2901,220
21First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $138,1601,840
22First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$70,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,810 – $94,9903,120
23Structural Iron and Steel Workers$68,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $80,5601,180
24Drafters, All Other$68,470
Associate's degree
$45,730 – $110,4601,200
25Construction and Building Inspectors$68,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,450 – $95,4001,440
26Occupational Therapy Assistants$66,090
Associate's degree
$31,530 – $83,200760
27Millwrights$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,300 – $82,4501,080
28Physical Therapist Assistants$65,370
Associate's degree
$24,360 – $81,5201,670
29Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $102,2403,340
30Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,690 – $90,810950
31Locomotive Engineers$64,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,180 – $73,630700
32Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$64,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,650 – $78,9901,370
33Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,120 – $79,5408,360
34Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,680
Associate's degree
$50,030 – $82,8303,370
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,380 – $122,05019,120
36Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$63,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,910 – $97,4403,900
37Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,3601,100
38Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,930 – $92,5101,410
39Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,390 – $80,8004,270
40Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$62,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,810 – $81,75013,690
41Electricians$61,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,750 – $81,81010,550
42Food Service Managers$61,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,140 – $103,6601,950
43Crane and Tower Operators$61,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,370 – $82,6201,930
44Machinists$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,930 – $84,9304,640
45Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,010
Associate's degree
$43,700 – $107,1301,040
46Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$60,760
No formal educational credential
$39,740 – $93,1203,130
47Detectives and Criminal Investigators$60,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,020 – $131,7301,740
48First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $94,1208,120
49Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,790 – $88,4907,410
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,250
Associate's degree
$36,960 – $78,2304,890

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	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$117,160	$60,480 – $206,860	6,830
2	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,350	$50,890 – $115,390	800
3	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,640	$42,160 – $111,060	3,490
4	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,060	$62,890 – $122,560	3,400
5	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,940	$46,990 – $169,410	910
6	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,650	$54,220 – $154,240	2,840
7	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$86,980	$45,770 – $98,840	890
8	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,850	$47,690 – $111,950	960
9	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$85,240	$49,900 – $98,330	2,690
10	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,990	$48,940 – $116,080	1,000
11	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,710	$62,900 – $98,500	1,150
12	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$50,930 – $94,800	3,060
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,780	$47,840 – $107,830	1,150
14	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,580	$47,480 – $111,210	6,430
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,520	$46,670 – $147,440	9,350
16	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,410	$46,200 – $117,990	2,520
17	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,550	$47,020 – $128,920	10,490
18	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,360	$49,920 – $104,400	14,070
19	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,240	$61,520 – $91,200	2,520
20	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,980	$63,390 – $77,290	1,220
21	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,700	$46,810 – $138,160	1,840
22	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,470	$47,810 – $94,990	3,120
23	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,830	$39,130 – $80,560	1,180
24	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$68,470	$45,730 – $110,460	1,200
25	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,260	$47,450 – $95,400	1,440
26	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,090	$31,530 – $83,200	760
27	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$48,300 – $82,450	1,080
28	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,370	$24,360 – $81,520	1,670
29	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,220	$42,160 – $102,240	3,340
30	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,500	$44,690 – $90,810	950
31	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,200	$47,180 – $73,630	700
32	Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,110	$39,650 – $78,990	1,370
33	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,680	$38,120 – $79,540	8,360
34	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,680	$50,030 – $82,830	3,370
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,290	$34,380 – $122,050	19,120
36	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,240	$39,910 – $97,440	3,900
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $76,360	1,100
38	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,640	$40,930 – $92,510	1,410
39	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,260	$39,390 – $80,800	4,270
40	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,250	$42,810 – $81,750	13,690
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,540	$38,750 – $81,810	10,550
42	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,400	$40,140 – $103,660	1,950
43	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,170	$45,370 – $82,620	1,930
44	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$39,930 – $84,930	4,640
45	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,010	$43,700 – $107,130	1,040
46	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$60,760	$39,740 – $93,120	3,130
47	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,450	$39,020 – $131,730	1,740
48	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$38,590 – $94,120	8,120
49	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$37,790 – $88,490	7,410
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,250	$36,960 – $78,230	4,890

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 that need no degree

More for Louisiana

Metro areas in Louisiana

By field in Louisiana

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree