Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lafayette, LA

Each occupation's median wage in Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, LA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Lafayette, LA run 12.8% below the national average (2024), so a Lafayette, LA salary is worth about 1.15× 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 Lafayette, LA

OccupationMedian, Lafayette, LA · vs. national

1Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$64,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,780 – $139,380+45.5%
2Business Teachers, Postsecondary$127,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,460 – $201,360+29.0%
3Coaches and Scouts$59,850
Bachelor's degree
$23,660 – $261,040+26.5%
4Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$116,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,620 – $173,040+25.7%
5Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,810 – $91,490+23.0%
6Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$93,360
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,700 – $130,300+16.3%
7Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$104,470
Bachelor's degree
$62,670 – $137,520+15.9%
8Industrial Engineers$117,120
Bachelor's degree
$76,540 – $176,010+14.3%
9Physicians, All Other$299,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,140 – $452,150+12.8%
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$73,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,600 – $98,560+12.2%
11Construction and Building Inspectors$83,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,420 – $126,430+12.2%
12Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $65,190+9.9%
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$87,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,310 – $109,770+9.7%
14Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $76,030+7.4%
15Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$49,970
No formal educational credential
$38,670 – $66,660+6.4%
16Paramedics$61,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,900 – $79,510+2.1%
17Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$51,800
Bachelor's degree
$26,270 – $77,260+1.8%
18Machinists$59,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $80,970+1.8%
19Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$80,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,600 – $123,450+1.1%
20Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+0.8%
21Dentists, General$171,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$94,020 – $296,330+0.5%
22Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,600
No formal educational credential
$33,520 – $58,350+0.4%
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,270 – $80,770-0.9%
24Physician Assistants$134,550
Master's degree
$105,020 – $163,610-1.0%
25Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$77,510
Master's degree
$47,070 – $122,100-1.4%
26Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$45,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,450 – $81,380-1.4%
27Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$48,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,640 – $71,130-1.5%
28Education Administrators, Postsecondary$103,070
Master's degree
$62,750 – $218,100-1.5%
29Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,350 – $61,490-1.5%
30Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,430
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,280-1.8%
31Data Entry Keyers$40,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,030 – $49,960-1.9%
32Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$49,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $76,940-2.5%
33Sales Engineers$121,680
Bachelor's degree
$108,800 – $121,680-2.6%
34Procurement Clerks$49,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $60,330-2.8%
35Insurance Sales Agents$60,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,800 – $98,920-2.9%
36Computer Systems Analysts$102,390
Bachelor's degree
$61,020 – $143,310-3.3%
37Civil Engineers$97,410
Bachelor's degree
$57,660 – $129,390-3.4%
38Sailors and Marine Oilers$49,500
No formal educational credential
$29,020 – $79,810-3.9%
39Driver/Sales Workers$37,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,010 – $49,970-3.9%
40Production Workers, All Other$38,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,800 – $52,000-4.1%
41Veterinarians$124,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,660 – $188,380-4.3%
42Cost Estimators$75,110
Bachelor's degree
$42,820 – $119,460-4.6%
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-4.7%
44Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,370 – $62,500-5.0%
45Drafters, All Other$60,270
Associate's degree
$44,220 – $107,340-5.1%
46Electricians$59,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,270 – $79,490-5.3%
47Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$53,890
No formal educational credential
$34,130 – $72,800-5.5%
48Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$73,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$40,560 – $128,630-5.8%
49Medical Transcriptionists$38,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,900 – $60,710-5.9%
50General and Operations Managers$99,510
Bachelor's degree
$49,750 – $215,720-5.9%

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

#	Occupation	MedianLafayette, LA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,950	$34,780 – $139,380	+45.5%
2	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$127,840	$61,460 – $201,360	+29.0%
3	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$59,850	$23,660 – $261,040	+26.5%
4	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$116,200	$63,620 – $173,040	+25.7%
5	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,580	$49,810 – $91,490	+23.0%
6	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$93,360	$62,700 – $130,300	+16.3%
7	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$104,470	$62,670 – $137,520	+15.9%
8	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$117,120	$76,540 – $176,010	+14.3%
9	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$299,990	$78,140 – $452,150	+12.8%
10	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,830	$44,600 – $98,560	+12.2%
11	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,780	$41,420 – $126,430	+12.2%
12	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,830	$40,080 – $65,190	+9.9%
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,630	$60,310 – $109,770	+9.7%
14	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,750	$39,110 – $76,030	+7.4%
15	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$49,970	$38,670 – $66,660	+6.4%
16	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,880	$43,900 – $79,510	+2.1%
17	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$51,800	$26,270 – $77,260	+1.8%
18	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,830	$39,470 – $80,970	+1.8%
19	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$80,840	$61,600 – $123,450	+1.1%
20	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	+0.8%
21	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$171,860	$94,020 – $296,330	+0.5%
22	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$46,600	$33,520 – $58,350	+0.4%
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,930	$41,270 – $80,770	-0.9%
24	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$134,550	$105,020 – $163,610	-1.0%
25	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$77,510	$47,070 – $122,100	-1.4%
26	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,010	$28,450 – $81,380	-1.4%
27	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,500	$34,640 – $71,130	-1.5%
28	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$103,070	$62,750 – $218,100	-1.5%
29	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,930	$34,350 – $61,490	-1.5%
30	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$47,440 – $75,280	-1.8%
31	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,550	$23,030 – $49,960	-1.9%
32	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,070	$34,790 – $76,940	-2.5%
33	Sales EngineersBachelor's degree	$121,680	$108,800 – $121,680	-2.6%
34	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,140	$40,410 – $60,330	-2.8%
35	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,490	$35,800 – $98,920	-2.9%
36	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$102,390	$61,020 – $143,310	-3.3%
37	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,410	$57,660 – $129,390	-3.4%
38	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$49,500	$29,020 – $79,810	-3.9%
39	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,270	$18,010 – $49,970	-3.9%
40	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,470	$28,800 – $52,000	-4.1%
41	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$124,470	$62,660 – $188,380	-4.3%
42	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$75,110	$42,820 – $119,460	-4.6%
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	-4.7%
44	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,820	$35,370 – $62,500	-5.0%
45	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,270	$44,220 – $107,340	-5.1%
46	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,820	$37,270 – $79,490	-5.3%
47	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$53,890	$34,130 – $72,800	-5.5%
48	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$73,110	$40,560 – $128,630	-5.8%
49	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,040	$36,900 – $60,710	-5.9%
50	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$99,510	$49,750 – $215,720	-5.9%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Lafayette, LA

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