Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Louisiana

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Waiters and Waitresses$15,080
No formal educational credential
$15,080 – $38,060-34.7%-17.7% nominal
2Speech-Language Pathologists$69,610
Master's degree
$53,480 – $107,650-31.6%-13.8% nominal
3Private Detectives and Investigators$41,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $67,690-28.5%-10.0% nominal
4Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$48,040
Bachelor's degree
$36,800 – $173,680-25.5%-6.2% nominal
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $102,240-25.4%-6.0% nominal
6Riggers$43,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,220 – $75,180-25.1%-5.7% nominal
7Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$27,370
Bachelor's degree
$20,730 – $44,350-24.9%-5.4% nominal
8Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$38,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $50,120-24.5%-4.9% nominal
9Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,250-22.8%-2.8% nominal
10Gambling Dealers$17,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$15,080 – $82,390-22.6%-2.6% nominal
11Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$49,410
No formal educational credential
$31,990 – $79,380-20.8%-0.2% nominal
12Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$37,910
Master's degree
$29,860 – $65,720-20.5%+0.1% nominal
13Chefs and Head Cooks$45,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,320 – $86,750-20.4%+0.2% nominal
14Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$40,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $60,960-19.1%+1.9% nominal
15Food Service Managers$61,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,140 – $103,660-18.8%+2.2% nominal
16Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,220 – $94,450-18.4%+2.7% nominal
17Tax Preparers$38,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,920 – $61,880-18.3%+2.9% nominal
18Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,690 – $90,810-18.1%+3.1% nominal
19Self-Enrichment Teachers$37,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,400 – $79,580-17.5%+3.9% nominal
20Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$57,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $100,750-17.3%+4.2% nominal
21Physical Therapist Aides$22,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,490 – $30,070-17.1%+4.4% nominal
22Surveyors$63,140
Bachelor's degree
$38,810 – $111,790-17.0%+4.5% nominal
23General and Operations Managers$101,790
Bachelor's degree
$50,470 – $219,240-16.1%+5.7% nominal
24Cargo and Freight Agents$48,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,230 – $73,360-16.1%+5.7% nominal
25Insulation Workers, Mechanical$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,330 – $58,870-16.1%+5.7% nominal
26Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$23,390
No formal educational credential
$21,060 – $37,230-15.8%+6.0% nominal
27Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$38,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,130 – $51,630-15.6%+6.3% nominal
28Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$79,580
Bachelor's degree
$51,720 – $154,590-15.3%+6.6% nominal
29First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$59,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,730 – $89,000-15.2%+6.8% nominal
30Pharmacists$132,410
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,920 – $156,740-14.8%+7.3% nominal
31Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$49,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,400 – $65,630-13.9%+8.4% nominal
32Architectural and Engineering Managers$162,850
Bachelor's degree
$119,600 – $218,970-13.9%+8.4% nominal
33Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$44,850
No formal educational credential
$36,700 – $66,660-13.7%+8.6% nominal
34Producers and Directors$62,920
Bachelor's degree
$35,750 – $150,220-13.6%+8.8% nominal
35Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$47,340
No formal educational credential
$37,040 – $62,340-13.6%+8.8% nominal
36Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,790 – $88,490-13.4%+9.1% nominal
37Occupational Therapy Assistants$66,090
Associate's degree
$31,530 – $83,200-13.3%+9.1% nominal
38Carpenters$49,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,100 – $69,310-13.1%+9.5% nominal
39Logisticians$75,230
Bachelor's degree
$50,550 – $129,230-13.0%+9.5% nominal
40Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$40,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,040 – $65,730-12.9%+9.7% nominal
41Painters, Construction and Maintenance$46,410
No formal educational credential
$32,000 – $59,330-12.6%+10.0% nominal
42Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$25,490
No formal educational credential
$19,250 – $36,200-12.5%+10.2% nominal
43Computer Network Support Specialists$58,680
Associate's degree
$41,950 – $89,910-12.4%+10.3% nominal
44Sheet Metal Workers$50,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,650 – $77,790-12.2%+10.5% nominal
45Amusement and Recreation Attendants$22,680
No formal educational credential
$18,450 – $30,380-12.2%+10.6% nominal
46Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$61,870
Master's degree
$45,340 – $87,940-12.2%+10.6% nominal
47Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$69,820
Bachelor's degree
$49,890 – $132,810-11.6%+11.3% nominal
48Parts Salespersons$31,310
No formal educational credential
$23,390 – $55,120-11.6%+11.3% nominal
49Crane and Tower Operators$61,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,370 – $82,620-11.3%+11.7% nominal
50Bartenders$20,850
No formal educational credential
$15,080 – $41,600-11.2%+11.9% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$15,080	$15,080 – $38,060	-34.7%-17.7% nominal
2	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$69,610	$53,480 – $107,650	-31.6%-13.8% nominal
3	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,950	$35,000 – $67,690	-28.5%-10.0% nominal
4	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$48,040	$36,800 – $173,680	-25.5%-6.2% nominal
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,220	$42,160 – $102,240	-25.4%-6.0% nominal
6	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,660	$29,220 – $75,180	-25.1%-5.7% nominal
7	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$27,370	$20,730 – $44,350	-24.9%-5.4% nominal
8	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,000	$34,440 – $50,120	-24.5%-4.9% nominal
9	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,250	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
10	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$17,760	$15,080 – $82,390	-22.6%-2.6% nominal
11	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$49,410	$31,990 – $79,380	-20.8%-0.2% nominal
12	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$37,910	$29,860 – $65,720	-20.5%+0.1% nominal
13	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,570	$32,320 – $86,750	-20.4%+0.2% nominal
14	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,870	$35,730 – $60,960	-19.1%+1.9% nominal
15	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,400	$40,140 – $103,660	-18.8%+2.2% nominal
16	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,490	$35,220 – $94,450	-18.4%+2.7% nominal
17	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,740	$24,920 – $61,880	-18.3%+2.9% nominal
18	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,500	$44,690 – $90,810	-18.1%+3.1% nominal
19	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,760	$22,400 – $79,580	-17.5%+3.9% nominal
20	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,930	$30,680 – $100,750	-17.3%+4.2% nominal
21	Physical Therapist AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,460	$19,490 – $30,070	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
22	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$63,140	$38,810 – $111,790	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
23	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$101,790	$50,470 – $219,240	-16.1%+5.7% nominal
24	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,940	$27,230 – $73,360	-16.1%+5.7% nominal
25	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$37,330 – $58,870	-16.1%+5.7% nominal
26	Gambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersNo formal educational credential	$23,390	$21,060 – $37,230	-15.8%+6.0% nominal
27	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,750	$31,130 – $51,630	-15.6%+6.3% nominal
28	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$79,580	$51,720 – $154,590	-15.3%+6.6% nominal
29	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,750	$35,730 – $89,000	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
30	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$132,410	$100,920 – $156,740	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
31	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,120	$22,400 – $65,630	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
32	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$162,850	$119,600 – $218,970	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
33	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$44,850	$36,700 – $66,660	-13.7%+8.6% nominal
34	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$62,920	$35,750 – $150,220	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
35	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$47,340	$37,040 – $62,340	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
36	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$37,790 – $88,490	-13.4%+9.1% nominal
37	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,090	$31,530 – $83,200	-13.3%+9.1% nominal
38	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,920	$34,100 – $69,310	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
39	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$75,230	$50,550 – $129,230	-13.0%+9.5% nominal
40	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,700	$27,040 – $65,730	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
41	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$46,410	$32,000 – $59,330	-12.6%+10.0% nominal
42	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$25,490	$19,250 – $36,200	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
43	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$58,680	$41,950 – $89,910	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
44	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,320	$34,650 – $77,790	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
45	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$22,680	$18,450 – $30,380	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
46	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$61,870	$45,340 – $87,940	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
47	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$69,820	$49,890 – $132,810	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
48	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$31,310	$23,390 – $55,120	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
49	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,170	$45,370 – $82,620	-11.3%+11.7% nominal
50	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$20,850	$15,080 – $41,600	-11.2%+11.9% nominal

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.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Louisiana

More for Louisiana

Metro areas in Louisiana

By field in Louisiana

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state