Jobs, pay and daily life in Ruston, 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.
Ruston is a city in Louisiana with 22,284 residents. The median household earns $31,120 a year and the median rent is $816 a month, which is 31.5% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Monroe, LA (87,500 jobs), about 26 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Ruston compares. Among the 80 largest places in Louisiana, Ruston is #20 by population, #79 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #78 for household income (#1 = highest), #6 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, Lincoln Parish, is #45 of 64 counties for average pay ($46,245).
Ruston has 22,284 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.5% of the population of Louisiana. It covers 21 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,052 people per square mile. The median age is 24.3, 36% younger than the state median (24.3 against 38.0).
The median gross rent is $816 a month (rent plus utilities), 23% below the state median ($816 against $1,064). Over a year that is 31.5% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so rent here is above that line for the typical household. The median home value is $225,300, which is 7.2 times the median household income ($31,120); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 36.2% of households own their home, 46% below the state average (36.2% 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 Monroe, LA, metropolitan area has 87,500 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $38,150 a year, 25% below the national median ($38,150 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (11,040 jobs, median $37,320); transportation and material moving (8,440 jobs, median $37,690); food preparation and serving related (8,000 jobs, median $22,090). The area is most specialised in healthcare support (1.7 times) and healthcare practitioners and technical (1.4 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are healthcare practitioners and technical ($66,010) and transportation and material moving ($37,690). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Lincoln Parish was 4.2%. 45.7% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Lincoln Parish; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 71.2% drive alone, 0.0% use public transit, 4.7% walk, 14.9% work from home. 7.1% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 53% below the state average (7.1% against 15.2%). Remote work is more common than in the state as a whole, which widens the set of employers a resident can work for without moving.
40.1% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 48% above the state share (40.1% against 27.0%). 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States, 18% below the state share (4.0% against 4.9%). The poverty rate is 39.8%, 110% above the state rate (39.8% against 18.9%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 83°F (28.6°C), and the coolest is Jan at 45°F (7.0°C). About 1,399 mm (55 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Dec is the wettest month (139 mm) and Sep the driest (91 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: Claiborne (26 miles, rent 48% higher); West Monroe (28 miles, similar rent); Monroe (33 miles, rent 9% higher); Minden (38 miles, rent 10% higher). Rent differences are against Ruston; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Louisiana (780) →State guide: LouisianaCountry guideLincoln ParishLouisiana rankings
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| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 4,530 | 1.87 | $21,720 | $18,710 | $33,140 | -39% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 2,830 | 1.71 | $35,260 | $22,770 | $44,300 | -12% |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,350 | 1.07 | $27,710 | $20,990 | $42,830 | -22% |
| Registered Nurses | 2,340 | 1.23 | $78,270 | $61,970 | $97,460 | -20% |
| Cashiers | 2,330 | 1.34 | $24,490 | $18,350 | $31,010 | -26% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,060 | 0.95 | $21,550 | $17,620 | $27,610 | -31% |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,060 | 1.48 | $30,280 | $20,810 | $45,910 | -33% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,740 | 0.88 | $94,240 | $47,680 | $198,620 | -11% |
| Food Preparation Workers | 1,630 | 3.25 | $22,430 | $17,170 | $34,000 | -36% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,530 | 1.23 | $28,120 | $20,800 | $35,490 | -24% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,370 | 1.07 | $15,080 | $15,080 | $43,180 | -57% |
| Nursing Assistants | 1,340 | 1.64 | $29,880 | $27,580 | $35,250 | -29% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,250 | 1.60 | $50,300 | $37,670 | $59,250 | -21% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,240 | 1.07 | $47,300 | $35,090 | $59,180 | -19% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,210 | 0.76 | $31,070 | $26,700 | $43,210 | -17% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 1,200 | 1.39 | $46,140 | $27,870 | $86,880 | -7% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,150 | 1.20 | $37,320 | $24,710 | $51,960 | -21% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 1,130 | 3.11 | $55,360 | $44,950 | $62,790 | -14% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 1,110 | 0.76 | $34,520 | $26,640 | $48,190 | -23% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,030 | 1.28 | $51,530 | $36,390 | $77,680 | -26% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Monroe, LA, about 26 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $38,150 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.0% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 37.1% |
| Retail trade | 14.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.1% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 6.7% |
| Public administration | 5.8% |
| Construction | 4.4% |
| Other services | 3.5% |
| Manufacturing | 3.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 3.0% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 3.0% |
| Information | 1.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.0% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Ruston 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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Parish | 48,174 | $2,777 million | $57,637 | 18,599 | 1,509 | $46,245 | +0.5% | 4.2% | 22,178 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 2,989 | 20.2% | $40,238 | 1.12 |
| Retail trade | 2,621 | 17.7% | $29,681 | 1.41 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,375 | 16.1% | $18,371 | 1.40 |
| Manufacturing | 1,170 | 7.9% | $60,829 | 0.77 |
| Construction | 846 | 5.7% | $53,758 | 0.87 |
| Professional and technical services | 739 | 5.0% | $74,260 | 0.57 |
| Administrative and waste services | 581 | 3.9% | $40,713 | 0.53 |
| Finance and insurance | 518 | 3.5% | $87,292 | 0.69 |
| Wholesale trade | 460 | 3.1% | $71,194 | 0.63 |
| Real estate and rental | 434 | 2.9% | $42,843 | 1.50 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 371 | 2.5% | $39,161 | 0.66 |
| Management of companies | 347 | 2.3% | $97,482 | 1.11 |
| Educational services | 305 | 2.1% | $35,494 | 0.79 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 256 | 1.7% | $25,514 | 0.82 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 248 | 1.7% | $78,064 | 0.31 |
| Information | 180 | 1.2% | $48,112 | 0.52 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 169 | 1.1% | $104,533 | 2.40 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 114 | 0.8% | $43,643 | 0.76 |
| Utilities | 54 | 0.4% | $57,223 | 0.76 |
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 | 71.2% |
| Public transit | 0.0% |
| Walk | 4.7% |
| Work from home | 14.9% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 7.1% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $31,120 |
| Income per person | $21,473 |
| Median gross rent per month | $816 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 31.5% |
| Median home value | $225,300 |
| Homeowners | 36.2% |
| Poverty rate | 39.8% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 83.6 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $38,150 |
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 | 24.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 92.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 40.1% |
| Born abroad | 4.0% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 45.7% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7.0 | 45 | 120 |
| Feb | 9.1 | 48 | 129 |
| Mar | 13.8 | 57 | 131 |
| Apr | 18.1 | 65 | 125 |
| May | 22.7 | 73 | 119 |
| Jun | 27.1 | 81 | 108 |
| Jul | 28.6 | 83 | 107 |
| Aug | 28.6 | 83 | 97 |
| Sep | 25.4 | 78 | 91 |
| Oct | 19.1 | 66 | 129 |
| Nov | 12.9 | 55 | 104 |
| Dec | 8.5 | 47 | 139 |
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 ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claiborne | LA | 26 mi | 13,308 | $72,420 | $1,206 |
| West Monroe | LA | 28 mi | 12,729 | $49,386 | $826 |
| Monroe | LA | 33 mi | 47,004 | $40,505 | $886 |
| Minden | LA | 38 mi | 11,455 | $34,294 | $895 |
| Bastrop | LA | 46 mi | 9,232 | $32,605 | $839 |
| El Dorado | AR | 47 mi | 17,115 | $49,244 | $880 |
| Bossier City | LA | 59 mi | 62,901 | $55,819 | $1,107 |
| Natchitoches | LA | 62 mi | 17,577 | $37,133 | $802 |
| Magnolia | AR | 62 mi | 10,894 | $56,127 | $633 |
| Shreveport | LA | 68 mi | 180,982 | $48,699 | $987 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
22,284 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$816 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 31.5% of the median household income.
$31,120 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.2% (BLS county, Lincoln Parish (latest month 2026M09)).
Louisiana. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.