Jobs, pay and daily life in New Orleans, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
New Orleans is a city in Louisiana with 362,701 residents. The median household earns $58,821 a year and the median rent is $1,310 a month, which is 26.7% of the median household income. It is part of the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan area, where BLS counts 445,550 jobs.
Federal jobs in Louisiana (780) →State guide: LouisianaCountry guide
There are 780 federal postings open in Louisiana (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Louisiana →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 12,030 | 1.08 | $30,400 | $23,100 | $46,630 | -14% |
| Registered Nurses | 11,530 | 1.19 | $81,850 | $65,660 | $103,180 | -16% |
| General and Operations Managers | 10,670 | 1.06 | $105,110 | $53,040 | $240,450 | -1% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 10,110 | 0.92 | $25,470 | $22,340 | $35,030 | -18% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 10,050 | 1.54 | $16,640 | $15,080 | $42,410 | -53% |
| Cashiers | 9,320 | 1.05 | $28,370 | $20,960 | $36,030 | -14% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 9,220 | 1.09 | $36,380 | $26,410 | $47,680 | -10% |
| Food Preparation Workers | 7,250 | 2.83 | $26,200 | $18,490 | $36,210 | -26% |
| Office Clerks, General | 6,740 | 0.95 | $33,860 | $21,540 | $51,650 | -25% |
| Security Guards | 6,650 | 1.81 | $32,240 | $23,590 | $48,990 | -15% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 6,600 | 0.54 | $23,650 | $19,970 | $34,280 | -34% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 6,330 | 0.78 | $34,830 | $28,500 | $45,320 | -7% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 6,180 | 1.26 | $42,830 | $28,820 | $60,210 | -10% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 6,070 | 0.96 | $30,020 | $22,880 | $41,600 | -19% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 5,600 | 0.75 | $39,300 | $29,860 | $56,960 | -12% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 5,500 | 0.93 | $51,540 | $37,960 | $73,880 | -12% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 4,940 | 1.13 | $45,260 | $29,840 | $72,340 | -9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 4,830 | 1.17 | $60,270 | $41,450 | $89,770 | -13% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 4,720 | 1.17 | $30,520 | $23,000 | $43,860 | -18% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 4,590 | 1.47 | $73,920 | $35,740 | $121,450 | -11% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 1,910 | 1.95 | $326,440 | $63,950 | $420,620 | +23% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 560 | 0.89 | $165,620 | $130,740 | $208,970 | -3% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 580 | 0.82 | $147,980 | $87,010 | $217,310 | +17% |
| Financial Managers | 1,970 | 0.82 | $134,110 | $84,250 | $229,630 | -19% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 800 | 0.41 | $131,570 | $69,000 | $210,570 | -25% |
| Pharmacists | 1,470 | 1.59 | $128,100 | $86,060 | $155,240 | -9% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 510 | 0.63 | $127,030 | $54,840 | $190,600 | +21% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,270 | 1.37 | $124,800 | $105,570 | $157,690 | -6% |
| Construction Managers | 800 | 0.74 | $122,050 | $72,700 | $182,390 | +6% |
| Lawyers | 4,330 | 2.00 | $121,290 | $62,530 | $290,190 | -24% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,810 | 1.06 | $120,700 | $75,920 | $216,550 | -3% |
| Sales Managers | 1,000 | 0.55 | $118,540 | $67,710 | $222,320 | -20% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 530 | 0.63 | $117,990 | $75,340 | $170,810 | +13% |
| Managers, All Other | 2,610 | 1.46 | $112,550 | $62,130 | $189,260 | -21% |
| Engineers, All Other | 1,050 | 2.38 | $110,970 | $64,060 | $167,700 | -10% |
| Civil Engineers | 1,070 | 1.02 | $108,240 | $70,000 | $156,760 | +7% |
| Software Developers | 940 | 0.20 | $106,950 | $77,760 | $161,260 | -21% |
| General and Operations Managers | 10,670 | 1.06 | $105,110 | $53,040 | $240,450 | -1% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 810 | 1.07 | $103,020 | $68,860 | $175,260 | -10% |
| Physical Therapists | 710 | 0.92 | $100,530 | $60,150 | $123,900 | -2% |
These figures are for the whole New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,290 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.9% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.8% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 14.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 14.5% |
| Retail trade | 9.0% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 5.7% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.2% |
| Public administration | 4.9% |
| Other services | 4.7% |
| Construction | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 3.1% |
| Information | 1.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.6% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 64.5% |
| Public transit | 4.1% |
| Walk | 6.1% |
| Work from home | 12.5% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 9.4% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,821 |
| Income per person | $42,674 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,310 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 26.7% |
| Median home value | $305,100 |
| Homeowners | 52.8% |
| Poverty rate | 20.5% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 92.6 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $47,290 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 3.00%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 90.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 43.3% |
| Born abroad | 6.5% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 61.2% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12.0 | 54 | 98 |
| Feb | 14.0 | 57 | 107 |
| Mar | 17.3 | 63 | 104 |
| Apr | 21.0 | 70 | 128 |
| May | 24.7 | 76 | 119 |
| Jun | 27.9 | 82 | 176 |
| Jul | 28.5 | 83 | 173 |
| Aug | 28.5 | 83 | 190 |
| Sep | 26.8 | 80 | 129 |
| Oct | 22.3 | 72 | 104 |
| Nov | 17.0 | 63 | 76 |
| Dec | 13.5 | 56 | 128 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | LA | 76 mi | 222,771 | $49,994 | $1,067 |
| Mobile | AL | 117 mi | 203,416 | $53,558 | $1,068 |
| Lafayette | LA | 126 mi | 121,715 | $61,915 | $1,100 |
| Jackson | MS | 157 mi | 146,631 | $42,071 | $1,055 |
| Montgomery | AL | 269 mi | 197,494 | $56,811 | $1,089 |
| Shreveport | LA | 282 mi | 180,982 | $48,699 | $987 |
| Birmingham | AL | 303 mi | 198,173 | $46,051 | $1,107 |
| Pasadena | TX | 314 mi | 149,433 | $64,927 | $1,213 |
| Pearland | TX | 325 mi | 127,514 | $118,842 | $1,860 |
| Houston | TX | 327 mi | 2,387,910 | $64,361 | $1,408 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
362,701 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,310 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 26.7% of the median household income.
$58,821 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.9% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Louisiana. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.