Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Alexandria, LA

Each occupation's median wage in Alexandria, LA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Alexandria, LA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Alexandria, LA run 14.3% below the national average (2024), so a Alexandria, LA salary is worth about 1.17× 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 Alexandria, LA

OccupationMedian, Alexandria, LA · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$349,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$237,750 – $543,260+31.2%
2Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$63,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,020 – $90,810+28.1%
3Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$80,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,290 – $92,490+26.1%
4Correctional Officers and Jailers$72,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $85,450+23.7%
5Logging Equipment Operators$60,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,410 – $63,390+21.5%
6Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,900 – $83,510+20.0%
7First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$91,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,830 – $105,810+17.9%
8Drafters, All Other$74,540
Associate's degree
$53,610 – $102,030+17.3%
9Forest and Conservation Technicians$63,270
Associate's degree
$41,990 – $81,720+16.0%
10Social Workers, All Other$80,830
Bachelor's degree
$53,630 – $112,030+12.4%
11Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$72,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,260 – $100,880+10.7%
12Social and Community Service Managers$86,640
Bachelor's degree
$58,130 – $129,630+7.8%
13Postal Service Clerks$65,020
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+4.7%
14Information and Record Clerks, All Other$50,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $76,030+2.9%
15Power Plant Operators$102,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,210 – $112,840+0.8%
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,750 – $130,800+0.7%
17Physical Therapists$103,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,830 – $156,000+0.6%
18Dietitians and Nutritionists$75,520
Bachelor's degree
$53,990 – $103,380-1.2%
19Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$65,490
Bachelor's degree
$44,220 – $82,860-1.2%
20Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$37,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,700 – $56,980-1.7%
21Occupational Therapists$98,490
Master's degree
$61,150 – $138,510-1.8%
22Physician Assistants$132,710
Master's degree
$50,530 – $179,070-2.3%
23First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,370 – $91,170-2.3%
24Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$61,360
Bachelor's degree
$36,660 – $80,790-2.5%
25Counselors, All Other$49,220
Master's degree
$35,520 – $67,040-3.2%
26Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$36,840
Associate's degree
$22,180 – $56,920-3.4%
27Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,180 – $64,430-4.6%
28Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$48,540
Bachelor's degree
$33,210 – $69,760-4.6%
29Pharmacists$134,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$110,630 – $154,910-4.7%
30Cost Estimators$74,890
Bachelor's degree
$43,940 – $96,350-4.9%
31Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$53,740
Bachelor's degree
$35,720 – $73,660-5.3%
32Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,620 – $52,420-6.1%
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$56,660
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-6.4%
34First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,290 – $100,030-6.6%
35Nurse Practitioners$123,080
Master's degree
$99,460 – $134,990-7.0%
36General and Operations Managers$98,360
Bachelor's degree
$50,450 – $201,570-7.0%
37Parts Salespersons$35,890
No formal educational credential
$23,270 – $52,160-7.1%
38Loan Interviewers and Clerks$46,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $57,620-8.0%
39Highway Maintenance Workers$46,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,340 – $65,350-8.1%
40Civil Engineers$92,290
Bachelor's degree
$58,450 – $163,290-8.5%
41Physical Therapist Assistants$62,530
Associate's degree
$26,710 – $83,200-8.6%
42Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$58,810
Master's degree
$46,820 – $58,810-8.6%
43Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$41,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,070 – $59,950-8.8%
44Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$41,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,910 – $76,190-8.9%
45Food Service Managers$62,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,880 – $88,110-9.2%
46Paralegals and Legal Assistants$56,760
Associate's degree
$36,430 – $74,530-9.7%
47Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$43,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,980 – $68,170-9.9%
48Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $76,120-9.9%
49Dental Assistants$43,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,880 – $47,940-10.0%
50Driver/Sales Workers$34,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$17,770 – $48,850-10.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianAlexandria, LA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$349,010	$237,750 – $543,260	+31.2%
2	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,050	$26,020 – $90,810	+28.1%
3	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,540	$49,290 – $92,490	+26.1%
4	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,920	$35,170 – $85,450	+23.7%
5	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,410	$43,410 – $63,390	+21.5%
6	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$40,900 – $83,510	+20.0%
7	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,890	$47,830 – $105,810	+17.9%
8	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,540	$53,610 – $102,030	+17.3%
9	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,270	$41,990 – $81,720	+16.0%
10	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,830	$53,630 – $112,030	+12.4%
11	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,860	$42,260 – $100,880	+10.7%
12	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$86,640	$58,130 – $129,630	+7.8%
13	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,020	$42,600 – $75,030	+4.7%
14	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,940	$37,410 – $76,030	+2.9%
15	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,830	$50,210 – $112,840	+0.8%
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,980	$44,750 – $130,800	+0.7%
17	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,380	$62,830 – $156,000	+0.6%
18	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$75,520	$53,990 – $103,380	-1.2%
19	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$65,490	$44,220 – $82,860	-1.2%
20	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,990	$27,700 – $56,980	-1.7%
21	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$98,490	$61,150 – $138,510	-1.8%
22	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$132,710	$50,530 – $179,070	-2.3%
23	First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$37,370 – $91,170	-2.3%
24	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$61,360	$36,660 – $80,790	-2.5%
25	Counselors, All OtherMaster's degree	$49,220	$35,520 – $67,040	-3.2%
26	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$36,840	$22,180 – $56,920	-3.4%
27	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,580	$29,180 – $64,430	-4.6%
28	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$48,540	$33,210 – $69,760	-4.6%
29	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$134,340	$110,630 – $154,910	-4.7%
30	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$74,890	$43,940 – $96,350	-4.9%
31	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$53,740	$35,720 – $73,660	-5.3%
32	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,800	$33,620 – $52,420	-6.1%
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$56,660	$42,390 – $81,040	-6.4%
34	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$44,290 – $100,030	-6.6%
35	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$123,080	$99,460 – $134,990	-7.0%
36	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$98,360	$50,450 – $201,570	-7.0%
37	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$35,890	$23,270 – $52,160	-7.1%
38	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,020	$31,200 – $57,620	-8.0%
39	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,200	$22,340 – $65,350	-8.1%
40	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$92,290	$58,450 – $163,290	-8.5%
41	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,530	$26,710 – $83,200	-8.6%
42	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$58,810	$46,820 – $58,810	-8.6%
43	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,660	$28,070 – $59,950	-8.8%
44	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,220	$29,910 – $76,190	-8.9%
45	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,990	$36,880 – $88,110	-9.2%
46	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$56,760	$36,430 – $74,530	-9.7%
47	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,740	$28,980 – $68,170	-9.9%
48	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,470	$35,360 – $76,120	-9.9%
49	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,270	$29,880 – $47,940	-10.0%
50	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,880	$17,770 – $48,850	-10.0%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Alexandria, LA

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