Nurse salary in Louisiana

Louisiana is one of the lower paying states for registered nurses. The registered nurse salary in Louisiana is $64,450 per year. This means that nurses in Louisiana earn an average of $30.99 per hour. On the other hand, the national average for registered nurses is $77,600 per year. This annual salary is approximately $37.31 per hour.

(Data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Use Salary Explorer to see which cities in Louisiana are paying registered nurses the most.

Average gross weekly nurse pay in the top cities/wider metro area

1. Houma - $3,946
2. Kenner - $2,920
3. Shreveport - $2,377
4. COVINGTON - $2,338
5. Baton Rouge - $2,287
6. Lafayette - $2,244
7. Gretna - $2,094
8. Alexandria - $2,016
9. New Orleans - $1,975
10. Kinder - $1,957

(Data courtesy of Trusted Health, May 2021)

Average annual nurse salary in the following cities/wider metro areas

1. New Orleans/Metairie - $77,030
2. Shreveport/Bossier City - $74,310
3. Hammond - $73,380
4. Houma/Thibodaux - $64,060
5. Baton Rouge - $62,680
6. Monroe - $62,390
7. Alexandria - $62,160
8. Lafayette - $61,030
9. Lake Charles - $60,550

(Data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Average annual nurse salary for the following nurse specialties

1. Med/Surg Nurse - $97,720 (Range of $88,406 - $108,864)
2. Progressive Care Nurse - $83,886 (Range of $74,199 - $94,315)
3. Operating Room Nurse - $79,238 (Range of $71,097 - $87,592)
4. ICU Nurse - $76,699 (Range of $69,108 - $83,339)
5. Labor and Delivery Nurse - $74,300 (Range of $67,700 - $84,200)
6. Pediatric Nurse - $72,800 (Range of $66,000 - $83,300)
7. Emergency Nurse - $72,490 (Range of $64,869 - $80,619)

‍(Data courtesy of Salary.com, May 2021)

Although nurse salaries in Louisiana may be 17% lower than the national average, living in Louisiana is more affordable. Louisiana ranks below the national cost of living index. While your nursing salary may be lower, the cost of rent alone may make up for it. For more detailed cost of living by city, check out the nurse Salary Explorer.

(Data courtesy of World Population Review)

Louisiana is a popular destination for staff and travel nurses alike. In 2021, Louisiana was home to more than 42,590 nurses.

However, Louisiana does not have a strong job outlook, as the number of nurses needed in Louisiana is expected to be less. Registered nurse jobs are forecasted to fall by more than 2.9% between 2021 and 2023, bringing the total number of working nurses in Louisiana to more than 43,820.

‍(Data courtesy of Projections Central)