Registered Nurses Salary in New Orleans, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Median annual salary $81,920 -12.5% vs national
Median hourly $39.39
10th percentile $65,870
90th percentile $125,020
Employed locally 11,410
National median $93,600

Compare Registered Nurses salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New Orleans, LA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Registered Nurses
in
New Orleans, LA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $65,870
    25th
    $78,510
    50th (median)
    $81,920
    75th
    $97,340
    90th
    $125,020

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Registered Nurses salary vs area income 132% Median Registered Nurses salary is 32% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Registered Nurses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $208,940
    Vallejo, CA $192,470
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $188,020
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $178,900
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $172,390
    Modesto, CA $169,460

    Nearby metros — Registered Nurses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $208,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $188,020
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $133,090
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $127,980
    Bakersfield-Delano, CA $127,510
    Alaska $110,690

    Related occupations in New Orleans, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $58,800
    Physicians, All Other $326,440
    Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other $66,190
    Pharmacy Technicians $39,110
    Pharmacists $128,250
    Nurse Practitioners $127,670

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Registered Nurses make per hour in New Orleans?

    The median hourly wage for Registered Nurses in New Orleans, LA is $39.39, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.61 or more per hour.

    Is New Orleans above or below average for Registered Nurses salaries?

    The median Registered Nurses salary in New Orleans, LA is 12.5% below the national median of $93,600. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Registered Nurses in New Orleans?

    Entry-level Registered Nurses (10th percentile) earn around $65,870 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $78,510.