State LA
Period May 2025
Price level 88.2
Data updated October 25, 2026

Highest-paying jobs in Louisiana

The highest published median in Louisiana is for pediatricians, general, at $502,720 a year. For one more occupation, BLS reports the median only as “$239,200 or more”; they are listed below the table. The median for all occupations in the state is $45,520, against $50,980 nationally.

Louisiana · all occupationsMay 2025

Median / yr: $45,520
Mean / yr: $56,600
Price level (U.S.=100): 88.2
Median, price-adjusted: $51,606
Adjusted rank: 31 of 51
Jobs: 1,934,900

Price-adjusted = median ÷ (BEA 2024 regional price parity ÷ 100). Compare all states.

The 50 best-paid occupations in Louisiana

LA · Src BLS-OEWS · May 2025Top 50 of 678

Top 50 occupations in Louisiana by median annual wage
No.	Occupation	Median in LA	U.S. median	Employed in LA
1	Pediatricians, General	$502,720	$210,040	40
2	Anesthesiologists	$410,500	$391,490	190
3	Obstetricians and Gynecologists	$404,550	$292,910	80
4	Physicians, All Other	$350,920	$265,930	4,740
5	Psychiatrists	$345,040	$281,870	90
6	Surgeons, All Other	$304,830	$414,010	140
7	Family Medicine Physicians	$255,330	$244,180	1,090
8	Nurse Anesthetists	$222,130	$236,590	900
9	General Internal Medicine Physicians	$210,390	$256,560	—
10	Podiatrists	$197,480	$160,300	50
11	Dentists, General	$170,750	$170,950	1,500
12	Physicists	$166,240	$172,250	40
13	Architectural and Engineering Managers	$162,850	$171,270	1,840
14	Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric	$155,250	$300,080	30
15	Petroleum Engineers	$139,640	$144,910	710
16	Aerospace Engineers	$136,970	$134,960	90
17	Chemical Engineers	$134,800	$125,040	730
18	Industrial Production Managers	$133,210	$126,060	2,680
19	Economics Teachers, Postsecondary	$132,670	$123,920	70
20	Pharmacists	$132,410	$140,910	5,610
21	Environmental Engineers	$130,510	$107,110	340
22	Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance	$129,580	$97,150	—
23	Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$129,040	$99,080	640
24	Physician Assistants	$128,870	$135,880	1,360
25	Materials Engineers	$128,670	$112,860	90
26	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$127,500	$175,140	2,860
27	Financial Managers	$126,800	$166,570	7,070
28	Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers	$126,440	$117,860	140
29	Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	$125,930	$109,270	300
30	Nurse Practitioners	$125,600	$132,300	5,380
31	Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$125,130	$107,310	2,250
32	Veterinarians	$124,370	$130,100	950
33	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	$124,200	$104,920	2,340
34	Electrical Engineers	$123,710	$120,630	990
35	Industrial Engineers	$122,920	$102,440	1,710
36	Fundraising Managers	$122,150	$125,470	50
37	Sales Engineers	$121,680	$124,900	—
38	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	$120,740	$232,140	150
39	Marketing Managers	$120,650	$166,790	940
40	Mechanical Engineers	$119,540	$104,110	1,890
41	Nurse Midwives	$119,280	$134,040	60
42	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors	$118,490	$115,160	370
43	Optometrists	$118,060	$136,570	250
44	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	$117,160	$92,460	6,830
45	Natural Sciences Managers	$115,950	$167,220	—
46	Computer and Information Research Scientists	$115,210	$140,300	140
47	Sales Managers	$110,700	$148,270	4,360
48	Construction Managers	$110,010	$114,990	5,530
49	Purchasing Managers	$109,630	$148,080	470
50	Gas Plant Operators	$108,350	$87,820	800

Median reported only as “$239,200 or more” in Louisiana: Emergency Medicine Physicians. The exact figures are not published, so these are not ranked.

Dashes mean the employment estimate was not published.

Best-paid occupations with at least 1,000 jobs in Louisiana

Physicians, All Other — $350,920 (4,740 jobs)
Family Medicine Physicians — $255,330 (1,090 jobs)
Dentists, General — $170,750 (1,500 jobs)
Architectural and Engineering Managers — $162,850 (1,840 jobs)
Industrial Production Managers — $133,210 (2,680 jobs)
Pharmacists — $132,410 (5,610 jobs)
Physician Assistants — $128,870 (1,360 jobs)
Computer and Information Systems Managers — $127,500 (2,860 jobs)
Financial Managers — $126,800 (7,070 jobs)
Nurse Practitioners — $125,600 (5,380 jobs)

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state file.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024.