SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — New Orleans
New Orleans-Metairie, LA · 9 metro areas compared
In New Orleans, LA the median wage is $81,850.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In New Orleans, LA the median wage is $81,850. That is 16.1% lower than the national median of $97,550. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $75,030 and $95,140. The lowest tenth earn under $65,660, while the highest tenth earn more than $103,180.
Employment stands at 11,530, or 25.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Lake Charles leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $90,690. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 103rd of 505 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,660 | −32.7% |
| 25th | $75,030 | −23.1% |
| Median (50th) | $81,850 | −16.1% |
| 75th | $95,140 | −2.5% |
| 90th | $103,180 | +5.8% |
| Mean | $86,630 | −11.2% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles | $90,690 | 2,460 | |
| 2 | Lafayette | $81,960 | 4,930 | |
| 3 | Alexandria | $81,680 | 2,170 | |
| 4 | Slidell | $81,160 | 3,190 | |
| 5 | Baton Rouge | $81,130 | 8,290 | |
| 6 | Shreveport | $80,080 | 6,390 | |
| 7 | Monroe | $78,270 | 2,340 | |
| 8 | Hammond | $76,200 | 1,260 | |
| 9 | Houma | $75,740 | 1,460 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Orleans run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $81,850 goes as far as $92,800 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$81,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$92,800US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,850 a year, 16.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,660 to $103,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 11,530 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lake Charles, at $90,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in New Orleans, LA?
The median annual wage is $81,850, or $39.35 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 $97,550, so pay in New Orleans, LA is 16.1% 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 New Orleans, LA earns more than $103,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,660 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 $90,690 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 11,530 jobs in this occupation in New Orleans, LA. 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.
Explore related data