Jobs that pay the biggest premium in New Orleans-Metairie, LA

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

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 · vs. national

1Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$94,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,950 – $103,170+62.7%
2Business Teachers, Postsecondary$137,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,030 – $262,590+38.8%
3Family Medicine Physicians$332,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$190,750 – $464,410+36.2%
4Chemical Technicians$80,390
Associate's degree
$40,550 – $113,070+33.1%
5Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$121,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,980 – $170,470+31.6%
6Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$81,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,320 – $97,860+26.9%
7Coaches and Scouts$60,030
Bachelor's degree
$23,340 – $210,430+26.9%
8Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,100 – $103,260+24.3%
9Industrial Engineers$127,340
Bachelor's degree
$83,530 – $170,530+24.3%
10Physicians, All Other$326,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,950 – $420,620+22.8%
11Ship Engineers$132,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,800 – $276,090+21.2%
12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$127,030
Bachelor's degree
$54,840 – $190,600+21.1%
13Chemical Plant and System Operators$92,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,480 – $124,770+18.1%
14Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$63,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,520 – $82,600+17.7%
15Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,080 – $207,800+17.4%
16Industrial Production Managers$147,980
Bachelor's degree
$87,010 – $217,310+17.4%
17Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$59,340
Bachelor's degree
$36,810 – $80,450+16.6%
18Dentists, General$198,050
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,880 – $323,930+15.9%
19Surveying and Mapping Technicians$62,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $128,630+15.4%
20Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,200 – $81,330+14.5%
21Aircraft Service Attendants$46,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $58,240+14.4%
22Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,960 – $91,600+14.1%
23Machinists$66,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,340 – $103,160+14.0%
24Mechanical Engineers$117,990
Bachelor's degree
$75,340 – $170,810+13.3%
25Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$42,570
Associate's degree
$24,560 – $63,240+11.6%
26Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$107,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,280 – $111,370+11.1%
27Production Workers, All Other$44,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,520 – $63,860+11.0%
28Material Moving Workers, All Other$46,360
No formal educational credential
$32,120 – $61,700+10.9%
29Commercial Pilots$135,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$71,060 – $169,410+10.3%
30Chemical Engineers$136,870
Bachelor's degree
$90,620 – $178,670+9.5%
31Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$55,230 – $120,140+9.4%
32Social Workers, All Other$78,480
Bachelor's degree
$48,110 – $111,090+9.2%
33Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$55,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,860 – $65,400+8.2%
34Physical Therapist Assistants$73,980
Associate's degree
$29,720 – $89,940+8.2%
35Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$51,310
Some college, no degree
$37,640 – $99,340+7.3%
36Civil Engineers$108,240
Bachelor's degree
$70,000 – $156,760+7.3%
37Social and Community Service Managers$86,290
Bachelor's degree
$54,380 – $135,390+7.3%
38Construction Managers$122,050
Bachelor's degree
$72,700 – $182,390+6.1%
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,040+6.1%
40Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders$62,200
No formal educational credential
$55,620 – $68,010+5.7%
41Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$46,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,810 – $76,860+5.6%
42Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$106,550
Bachelor's degree
$64,190 – $133,770+5.4%
43Chemists$96,100
Bachelor's degree
$55,110 – $137,300+5.3%
44Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$82,750
Master's degree
$39,940 – $193,430+5.3%
45Surveyors$79,230
Bachelor's degree
$43,940 – $122,140+5.0%
46First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,400 – $153,730+4.8%
47Library Technicians$46,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,700 – $58,830+4.6%
48Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$63,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,300 – $81,610+4.1%
49Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$64,940
Bachelor's degree
$40,330 – $108,890+4.1%
50Procurement Clerks$52,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,150 – $66,520+3.8%

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	vs. national
1	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,450	$49,950 – $103,170	+62.7%
2	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$137,540	$58,030 – $262,590	+38.8%
3	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$332,690	$190,750 – $464,410	+36.2%
4	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,390	$40,550 – $113,070	+33.1%
5	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$121,710	$59,980 – $170,470	+31.6%
6	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,090	$60,320 – $97,860	+26.9%
7	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$60,030	$23,340 – $210,430	+26.9%
8	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$30,100 – $103,260	+24.3%
9	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$127,340	$83,530 – $170,530	+24.3%
10	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$326,440	$63,950 – $420,620	+22.8%
11	Ship EngineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$132,710	$54,800 – $276,090	+21.2%
12	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$127,030	$54,840 – $190,600	+21.1%
13	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,260	$46,480 – $124,770	+18.1%
14	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,270	$45,520 – $82,600	+17.7%
15	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$99,340	$64,080 – $207,800	+17.4%
16	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$147,980	$87,010 – $217,310	+17.4%
17	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$59,340	$36,810 – $80,450	+16.6%
18	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$198,050	$101,880 – $323,930	+15.9%
19	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,570	$37,350 – $128,630	+15.4%
20	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,100	$36,200 – $81,330	+14.5%
21	Aircraft Service AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,290	$35,880 – $58,240	+14.4%
22	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$28,960 – $91,600	+14.1%
23	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,990	$44,340 – $103,160	+14.0%
24	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$117,990	$75,340 – $170,810	+13.3%
25	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$42,570	$24,560 – $63,240	+11.6%
26	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,490	$53,280 – $111,370	+11.1%
27	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,520	$30,520 – $63,860	+11.0%
28	Material Moving Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$46,360	$32,120 – $61,700	+10.9%
29	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$135,950	$71,060 – $169,410	+10.3%
30	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$136,870	$90,620 – $178,670	+9.5%
31	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$55,230 – $120,140	+9.4%
32	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,480	$48,110 – $111,090	+9.2%
33	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,550	$26,860 – $65,400	+8.2%
34	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,980	$29,720 – $89,940	+8.2%
35	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$51,310	$37,640 – $99,340	+7.3%
36	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$108,240	$70,000 – $156,760	+7.3%
37	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$86,290	$54,380 – $135,390	+7.3%
38	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$122,050	$72,700 – $182,390	+6.1%
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$44,160 – $81,040	+6.1%
40	Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersNo formal educational credential	$62,200	$55,620 – $68,010	+5.7%
41	Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,870	$34,810 – $76,860	+5.6%
42	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$106,550	$64,190 – $133,770	+5.4%
43	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$96,100	$55,110 – $137,300	+5.3%
44	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$82,750	$39,940 – $193,430	+5.3%
45	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$79,230	$43,940 – $122,140	+5.0%
46	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,990	$47,400 – $153,730	+4.8%
47	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,620	$33,700 – $58,830	+4.6%
48	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,500	$38,300 – $81,610	+4.1%
49	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$64,940	$40,330 – $108,890	+4.1%
50	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,480	$39,150 – $66,520	+3.8%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in New Orleans-Metairie, LA

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