High paying jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in New Orleans-Metairie, LA 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA run 7.4% below the national average (2024), so a New Orleans-Metairie, LA salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA

OccupationMedian, New Orleans-Metairie, LA · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$135,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$71,060 – $169,410140
2Ship Engineers$132,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,800 – $276,090230
3Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$121,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,980 – $170,4701,940
4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$107,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,280 – $111,3701,560
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$97,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,580 – $152,550780
6Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$94,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,950 – $103,1701,330
7Dental Hygienists$93,650
Associate's degree
$45,840 – $98,330840
8Chemical Plant and System Operators$92,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,480 – $124,770460
9Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$55,230 – $120,140180
10Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$82,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,740 – $99,070240
11Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$81,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,320 – $97,860590
12Chemical Technicians$80,390
Associate's degree
$40,550 – $113,070250
13First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,400 – $153,7301,880
14Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $122,290370
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,090 – $104,1602,130
16First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,000 – $131,7202,180
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,150 – $104,330930
18Respiratory Therapists$76,590
Associate's degree
$63,230 – $93,250620
19First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$75,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,790 – $96,820770
20Physical Therapist Assistants$73,980
Associate's degree
$29,720 – $89,940260
21First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$72,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,700 – $140,850490
22Food Service Managers$71,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,420 – $127,390580
23Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$70,740
Associate's degree
$53,180 – $96,870770
24Construction and Building Inspectors$69,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,450 – $94,780340
25Lodging Managers$67,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,600 – $126,220150
26Machinists$66,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,340 – $103,160550
27Drafters, All Other$65,870
Associate's degree
$46,050 – $99,520180
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,080 – $119,7404,490
29Crane and Tower Operators$65,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,050 – $84,150420
30Paralegals and Legal Assistants$64,780
Associate's degree
$41,040 – $79,8802,120
31Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,0401,120
32Millwrights$63,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,440 – $80,770140
33First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$63,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,360 – $98,3302,160
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$63,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,300 – $81,6101,280
35Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$63,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,520 – $82,6002,000
36Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$63,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,150 – $94,5001,910
37Surveying and Mapping Technicians$62,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $128,630220
38Electricians$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,990 – $82,5302,240
39Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$62,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,220 – $79,6901,510
40Detectives and Criminal Investigators$62,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,020 – $162,450450
41Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$62,430
Associate's degree
$38,520 – $112,260390
42Postal Service Clerks$62,370
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360180
43Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,390 – $84,750530
44Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$62,200
No formal educational credential
$55,620 – $68,010210
45Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,650 – $94,150330
46Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,250 – $107,3102,200
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,180 – $99,940360
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,180 – $96,9301,510
49Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $71,280310
50First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$61,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,480 – $95,710440

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

#	Occupation	MedianNew Orleans-Metairie, LA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$135,950	$71,060 – $169,410	140
2	Ship EngineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$132,710	$54,800 – $276,090	230
3	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$121,710	$59,980 – $170,470	1,940
4	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,490	$53,280 – $111,370	1,560
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,890	$59,580 – $152,550	780
6	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,450	$49,950 – $103,170	1,330
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,650	$45,840 – $98,330	840
8	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,260	$46,480 – $124,770	460
9	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$55,230 – $120,140	180
10	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,160	$49,740 – $99,070	240
11	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,090	$60,320 – $97,860	590
12	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,390	$40,550 – $113,070	250
13	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,990	$47,400 – $153,730	1,880
14	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,980	$38,190 – $122,290	370
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,700	$52,090 – $104,160	2,130
16	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,640	$49,000 – $131,720	2,180
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$48,150 – $104,330	930
18	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,590	$63,230 – $93,250	620
19	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,740	$57,790 – $96,820	770
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,980	$29,720 – $89,940	260
21	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,490	$49,700 – $140,850	490
22	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,810	$42,420 – $127,390	580
23	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,740	$53,180 – $96,870	770
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,500	$47,450 – $94,780	340
25	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,900	$43,600 – $126,220	150
26	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,990	$44,340 – $103,160	550
27	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,870	$46,050 – $99,520	180
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,720	$34,080 – $119,740	4,490
29	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,490	$49,050 – $84,150	420
30	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,780	$41,040 – $79,880	2,120
31	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$44,160 – $81,040	1,120
32	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,730	$48,440 – $80,770	140
33	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,520	$42,360 – $98,330	2,160
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,500	$38,300 – $81,610	1,280
35	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,270	$45,520 – $82,600	2,000
36	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,240	$47,150 – $94,500	1,910
37	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,570	$37,350 – $128,630	220
38	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$38,990 – $82,530	2,240
39	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,450	$39,220 – $79,690	1,510
40	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,430	$39,020 – $162,450	450
41	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,430	$38,520 – $112,260	390
42	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,370	$42,600 – $76,360	180
43	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,220	$39,390 – $84,750	530
44	Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersNo formal educational credential	$62,200	$55,620 – $68,010	210
45	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,720	$48,650 – $94,150	330
46	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$33,250 – $107,310	2,200
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,620	$41,180 – $99,940	360
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,560	$38,180 – $96,930	1,510
49	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$45,640 – $71,280	310
50	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,050	$46,480 – $95,710	440

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in New Orleans-Metairie, LA. 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Other metro areas in LA

By field in New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA that need no degree

More for New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Other metro areas in LA

By field in New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree