SOC 31-9092 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Medical Assistants — Louisiana
Louisiana · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Medical Assistants in Louisiana is $36,320 per year, 20.5% below the national median of $45,690.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Medical Assistants in Louisiana is $36,320 per year, 20.5% below the national median of $45,690. Half of workers earn between $32,020 and $38,550. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,970 and the ninetieth at $44,460.
Employment stands at 12,310, or 6.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Louisiana ranks number 49th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Lake Charles records the highest median at $38,550. Of the 679 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 560th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,970 | −36.6% |
| 25th | $32,020 | −29.9% |
| Median (50th) | $36,320 | −20.5% |
| 75th | $38,550 | −15.6% |
| 90th | $44,460 | −2.7% |
| Mean | $36,180 | −20.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles | $38,550 | 1,510 | |
| 2 | Baton Rouge | $36,900 | 2,180 | |
| 3 | New Orleans | $36,780 | 2,870 | |
| 4 | Hammond | $36,680 | 330 | |
| 5 | Shreveport | $36,210 | 960 | |
| 6 | Slidell | $35,950 | 860 | |
| 7 | Lafayette | $34,940 | 1,170 | |
| 8 | Monroe | $34,430 | 550 | |
| 9 | Houma | $34,420 | 480 | |
| 10 | Alexandria | $34,290 | 430 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $36,320 goes as far as $41,179 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,179US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,320 a year, 20.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,970 to $44,460 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 12,310 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 49th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lake Charles, at $38,550.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Medical Assistants in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $36,320, or $17.46 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $45,690, so pay in Louisiana is 20.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Louisiana earns more than $44,460 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,970 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lake Charles, at $38,550 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 12,310 jobs in this occupation in Louisiana. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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