Jobs, pay and daily life in Opelousas, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Opelousas is a city in Louisiana with 15,495 residents. The median household earns $32,964 a year and the median rent is $717 a month, which is 26.1% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Lafayette, LA (179,570 jobs), about 15 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Opelousas compares. Among the 80 largest places in Louisiana, Opelousas is #32 by population, #3 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #76 for household income (#1 = highest), #76 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, Saint Landry Parish, is #43 of 64 counties for average pay ($47,117).
Opelousas has 15,495 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.3% of the population of Louisiana. It covers 10 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,602 people per square mile. The median age is 37.1, about the same as the state median (37.1 against 38.0).
The median gross rent is $717 a month (rent plus utilities), 33% below the state median ($717 against $1,064). Over a year that is 26.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $105,100, which is 3.2 times the median household income ($32,964); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 52.8% of households own their home, 22% below the state average (52.8% against 67.4%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Lafayette, LA, metropolitan area has 179,570 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $41,780 a year, 18% below the national median ($41,780 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (22,570 jobs, median $38,290); food preparation and serving related (18,440 jobs, median $22,630); transportation and material moving (17,350 jobs, median $36,730). The area is most specialised in installation, maintenance, and repair (1.4 times) and construction and extraction (1.3 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($96,850) and healthcare practitioners and technical ($68,150). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Saint Landry Parish was 4.6%. 49.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Saint Landry Parish; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 84.0% drive alone, 0.5% use public transit, 2.1% walk, 5.0% work from home. 13.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 8% below the state average (13.9% against 15.2%).
10.7% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 60% below the state share (10.7% against 27.0%). 0.8% of residents were born outside the United States, 83% below the state share (0.8% against 4.9%). The poverty rate is 37.4%, 98% above the state rate (37.4% against 18.9%).
The warmest month is Aug, averaging 82°F (27.7°C), and the coolest is Jan at 49°F (9.5°C). About 1,558 mm (61 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (164 mm) and Nov the driest (100 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Carencro (15 miles, rent 32% higher); Scott (20 miles, rent 47% higher); Breaux Bridge (20 miles, rent 24% higher); Eunice (20 miles, rent 11% higher). Rent differences are against Opelousas; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Louisiana (780) →State guide: LouisianaCountry guideSaint Landry ParishLouisiana rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 5,200 | 1.05 | $21,400 | $18,440 | $30,410 | -40% |
| Retail Salespersons | 5,010 | 1.11 | $28,600 | $21,770 | $41,730 | -19% |
| Registered Nurses | 4,930 | 1.26 | $81,960 | $63,490 | $105,300 | -16% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,590 | 1.13 | $99,510 | $49,750 | $215,720 | -6% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 4,500 | 1.32 | $32,600 | $26,510 | $44,180 | -19% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 4,480 | 1.01 | $22,320 | $18,040 | $30,800 | -28% |
| Cashiers | 4,480 | 1.26 | $24,920 | $18,490 | $33,130 | -24% |
| Office Clerks, General | 4,240 | 1.49 | $34,510 | $21,340 | $47,970 | -23% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 3,410 | 1.30 | $15,080 | $15,080 | $36,320 | -57% |
| Food Preparation Workers | 3,260 | 3.16 | $22,920 | $17,380 | $30,840 | -35% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 3,170 | 0.97 | $31,310 | $26,970 | $44,800 | -16% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 2,920 | 1.23 | $49,450 | $36,730 | $70,570 | -16% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 2,430 | 1.70 | $62,800 | $33,900 | $120,810 | -13% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 2,210 | 1.12 | $38,060 | $26,310 | $53,230 | -20% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 2,200 | 0.86 | $28,460 | $21,100 | $39,590 | -23% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,140 | 0.72 | $36,820 | $25,360 | $50,070 | -18% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 2,130 | 1.34 | $38,910 | $27,440 | $60,160 | -23% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 2,100 | 1.19 | $40,930 | $22,190 | $66,260 | -17% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 2,100 | 2.81 | $51,580 | $41,710 | $62,270 | -20% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,990 | 1.19 | $29,960 | $27,260 | $36,630 | -29% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists | 540 | 1.45 | $132,130 | $108,070 | $156,350 | -6% |
| Financial Managers | 570 | 0.58 | $120,450 | $74,880 | $198,670 | -28% |
| Lawyers | 650 | 0.74 | $111,160 | $60,160 | $221,890 | -30% |
| Software Developers | 660 | 0.34 | $109,010 | $68,050 | $136,710 | -20% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 580 | 0.84 | $103,270 | $62,960 | $174,240 | -17% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,590 | 1.13 | $99,510 | $49,750 | $215,720 | -6% |
| Managers, All Other | 1,670 | 2.32 | $88,370 | $51,580 | $167,610 | -38% |
| Registered Nurses | 4,930 | 1.26 | $81,960 | $63,490 | $105,300 | -16% |
| Project Management Specialists | 660 | 0.53 | $80,720 | $52,850 | $132,480 | -21% |
| Engineers, All Other | 520 | 2.91 | $80,650 | $57,190 | $128,580 | -34% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 1,230 | 1.31 | $71,980 | $45,360 | $119,470 | -10% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 820 | 1.05 | $69,720 | $43,470 | $101,420 | -6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 830 | 1.16 | $68,620 | $42,630 | $111,940 | -14% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 1,100 | 0.65 | $67,630 | $47,380 | $103,090 | -19% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 530 | 0.33 | $64,950 | $34,780 | $139,380 | +45% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 2,430 | 1.70 | $62,800 | $33,900 | $120,810 | -13% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 1,360 | 1.08 | $61,270 | $34,670 | $102,230 | -26% |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 760 | 1.38 | $60,490 | $35,800 | $98,920 | -3% |
| Machinists | 980 | 2.94 | $59,830 | $39,470 | $80,970 | +2% |
| Electricians | 730 | 0.83 | $59,820 | $37,270 | $79,490 | -5% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Lafayette, LA, about 15 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $41,780 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.4% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% |
| Retail trade | 18.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.9% |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 8.5% |
| Construction | 8.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 6.6% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 3.6% |
| Other services | 3.6% |
| Public administration | 2.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.8% |
| Information | 0.3% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Opelousas lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Landry Parish | 81,670 | $3,178 million | $38,908 | 23,554 | 2,100 | $47,117 | -1.0% | 4.6% | 33,002 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 4,268 | 22.8% | $36,212 | 1.81 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,198 | 22.4% | $39,863 | 1.24 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,052 | 11.0% | $19,709 | 0.96 |
| Manufacturing | 1,418 | 7.6% | $68,130 | 0.73 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,282 | 6.8% | $66,468 | 1.29 |
| Construction | 1,177 | 6.3% | $59,744 | 0.95 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,014 | 5.4% | $62,605 | 1.09 |
| Finance and insurance | 608 | 3.2% | $60,399 | 0.64 |
| Professional and technical services | 543 | 2.9% | $64,113 | 0.33 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 424 | 2.3% | $36,098 | 0.60 |
| Administrative and waste services | 359 | 1.9% | $45,812 | 0.26 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 357 | 1.9% | $91,408 | 4.01 |
| Educational services | 278 | 1.5% | $37,767 | 0.57 |
| Utilities | 180 | 1.0% | $78,823 | 2.01 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 178 | 0.9% | $21,624 | 0.45 |
| Real estate and rental | 133 | 0.7% | $47,935 | 0.36 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 103 | 0.5% | $49,456 | 0.54 |
| Information | 103 | 0.5% | $58,616 | 0.23 |
| Management of companies | 62 | 0.3% | $94,714 | 0.16 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 84.0% |
| Public transit | 0.5% |
| Walk | 2.1% |
| Work from home | 5.0% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 13.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $32,964 |
| Income per person | $20,531 |
| Median gross rent per month | $717 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 26.1% |
| Median home value | $105,100 |
| Homeowners | 52.8% |
| Poverty rate | 37.4% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 87.2 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $41,780 |
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 | 37.1 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 80.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 10.7% |
| Born abroad | 0.8% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 49.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9.5 | 49 | 131 |
| Feb | 11.9 | 53 | 116 |
| Mar | 15.8 | 60 | 104 |
| Apr | 19.6 | 67 | 112 |
| May | 23.7 | 75 | 134 |
| Jun | 27.1 | 81 | 164 |
| Jul | 27.6 | 82 | 149 |
| Aug | 27.7 | 82 | 159 |
| Sep | 25.5 | 78 | 130 |
| Oct | 20.6 | 69 | 127 |
| Nov | 14.9 | 59 | 100 |
| Dec | 11.1 | 52 | 132 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carencro | LA | 15 mi | 11,619 | $63,401 | $944 |
| Scott | LA | 20 mi | 8,609 | $56,299 | $1,052 |
| Breaux Bridge | LA | 20 mi | 7,501 | $47,806 | $891 |
| Eunice | LA | 20 mi | 9,239 | $35,436 | $799 |
| Lafayette | LA | 22 mi | 121,715 | $61,915 | $1,100 |
| Crowley | LA | 27 mi | 11,422 | $28,642 | $594 |
| Broussard | LA | 28 mi | 14,322 | $116,179 | $1,010 |
| Youngsville | LA | 30 mi | 17,427 | $105,876 | $1,278 |
| Abbeville | LA | 38 mi | 11,003 | $33,015 | $829 |
| New Iberia | LA | 39 mi | 27,571 | $47,087 | $894 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
15,495 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$717 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 26.1% of the median household income.
$32,964 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.6% (BLS county, Saint Landry Parish (latest month 2026M09)).
Louisiana. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.