High paying jobs in Louisiana that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Louisiana, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Gas Plant Operators$108,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,890 – $115,390800
2Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$106,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $111,0603,490
3Chemical Plant and System Operators$100,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,890 – $122,5603,400
4Commercial Pilots$95,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,990 – $169,410910
5Chemical Technicians$85,850
Associate's degree
$47,690 – $111,950960
6Dental Hygienists$85,240
Associate's degree
$49,900 – $98,3302,690
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,990
Associate's degree
$48,940 – $116,0801,000
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,710
Associate's degree
$62,900 – $98,5001,150
9Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,930 – $94,8003,060
10Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$79,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,840 – $107,8301,150
11Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$78,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $111,2106,430
12Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,200 – $117,9902,520
13Respiratory Therapists$75,240
Associate's degree
$61,520 – $91,2002,520
14Boilermakers$73,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,390 – $77,2901,220
15Structural Iron and Steel Workers$68,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $80,5601,180
16Drafters, All Other$68,470
Associate's degree
$45,730 – $110,4601,200
17Occupational Therapy Assistants$66,090
Associate's degree
$31,530 – $83,200760
18Millwrights$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,300 – $82,4501,080
19Physical Therapist Assistants$65,370
Associate's degree
$24,360 – $81,5201,670
20Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $102,2403,340
21Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,690 – $90,810950
22Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers$64,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,650 – $78,9901,370
23Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,120 – $79,5408,360
24Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,680
Associate's degree
$50,030 – $82,8303,370
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,380 – $122,05019,120
26Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$63,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,910 – $97,4403,900
27Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,3601,100
28Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,930 – $92,5101,410
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,390 – $80,8004,270
30Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$62,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,810 – $81,75013,690
31Electricians$61,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,750 – $81,81010,550
32Machinists$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,930 – $84,9304,640
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,010
Associate's degree
$43,700 – $107,1301,040
34Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,790 – $88,4907,410
35Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,250
Associate's degree
$36,960 – $78,2304,890
36Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,680 – $98,1801,970
37Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$58,960
Associate's degree
$38,160 – $103,8102,110
38Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,910
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0405,090
39Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,900 – $79,1603,270
40Computer Network Support Specialists$58,680
Associate's degree
$41,950 – $89,9101,290
41Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,950 – $78,2105,380
42Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,900 – $77,340770
43Logging Equipment Operators$58,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,410 – $78,530770
44Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,2501,200
45Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,480 – $79,7301,150
46Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$57,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $100,750780
47Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$57,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,810 – $66,15017,600
48Surgical Technologists$57,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,580 – $74,6502,230
49Insurance Sales Agents$55,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $103,5607,100
50Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$55,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,530 – $108,5408,200

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	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,350	$50,890 – $115,390	800
2	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,640	$42,160 – $111,060	3,490
3	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,060	$62,890 – $122,560	3,400
4	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,940	$46,990 – $169,410	910
5	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,850	$47,690 – $111,950	960
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$85,240	$49,900 – $98,330	2,690
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,990	$48,940 – $116,080	1,000
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,710	$62,900 – $98,500	1,150
9	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$50,930 – $94,800	3,060
10	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,780	$47,840 – $107,830	1,150
11	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,580	$47,480 – $111,210	6,430
12	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,410	$46,200 – $117,990	2,520
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,240	$61,520 – $91,200	2,520
14	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,980	$63,390 – $77,290	1,220
15	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,830	$39,130 – $80,560	1,180
16	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$68,470	$45,730 – $110,460	1,200
17	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,090	$31,530 – $83,200	760
18	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$48,300 – $82,450	1,080
19	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,370	$24,360 – $81,520	1,670
20	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,220	$42,160 – $102,240	3,340
21	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,500	$44,690 – $90,810	950
22	Pump Operators, Except Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,110	$39,650 – $78,990	1,370
23	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,680	$38,120 – $79,540	8,360
24	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,680	$50,030 – $82,830	3,370
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,290	$34,380 – $122,050	19,120
26	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,240	$39,910 – $97,440	3,900
27	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $76,360	1,100
28	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,640	$40,930 – $92,510	1,410
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,260	$39,390 – $80,800	4,270
30	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,250	$42,810 – $81,750	13,690
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,540	$38,750 – $81,810	10,550
32	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$39,930 – $84,930	4,640
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,010	$43,700 – $107,130	1,040
34	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$37,790 – $88,490	7,410
35	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,250	$36,960 – $78,230	4,890
36	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,120	$38,680 – $98,180	1,970
37	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$58,960	$38,160 – $103,810	2,110
38	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,910	$42,390 – $81,040	5,090
39	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$38,900 – $79,160	3,270
40	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$58,680	$41,950 – $89,910	1,290
41	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,650	$36,950 – $78,210	5,380
42	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,640	$34,900 – $77,340	770
43	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,600	$43,410 – $78,530	770
44	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,250	1,200
45	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,230	$44,480 – $79,730	1,150
46	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,930	$30,680 – $100,750	780
47	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,470	$45,810 – $66,150	17,600
48	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,370	$36,580 – $74,650	2,230
49	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,440	$35,140 – $103,560	7,100
50	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,200	$33,530 – $108,540	8,200

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 experience

More for Louisiana

Metro areas in Louisiana

By field in Louisiana

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience