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Highest Paying Jobs In New Orleans, LA For 2026

By Chris Kolmar
Mar. 20, 2024
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 15, 2026

Highest Paying Jobs in New Orleans, LA for 2026

As we enter 2026, the job market in New Orleans continues to evolve, showcasing a variety of high-paying career opportunities across multiple industries, notably healthcare, technology, and finance. If you’re in pursuit of a lucrative career in the New Orleans area, this comprehensive list will help streamline your job search by highlighting the top-paying professions available today.

In this article, we delve into the 26 highest-paying jobs in New Orleans for 2026, utilizing the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While many of these high-paying positions demand significant experience, there are also well-compensated entry-level roles available for candidates with the right educational qualifications.

Currently, the highest-paying job in New Orleans is Physician, boasting an average annual salary of $270,506 and an entry-level salary of $140,000.

Whether you’re contemplating a career shift, considering a relocation to New Orleans, or a recent graduate planning your future, this guide to the highest-paying jobs and top industries in New Orleans can assist you in mapping out your next career move.

Here’s a brief overview of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in New Orleans, Louisiana:

  1. Physician – $270,506

  2. Reconstructive Surgeon – $265,519

  3. Hospitalist Physician – $262,905

  4. Assistant Professor of Surgery – $250,248

  5. Geriatric Physician – $239,385

  6. Medical Director – $232,544

  7. Staff Physician – $223,039

  8. Radiologist – $218,803

  9. Rheumatologist – $215,705

  10. Family Medicine Physician – $213,602

Detailed List of Highest Paying Jobs in New Orleans

Rank Job Title Average Salary Entry Level Salary
1 Physician $270,506 $140,000
2 Reconstructive Surgeon $265,519 $146,000
3 Hospitalist Physician $262,905 $186,000
4 Assistant Professor of Surgery $250,248 $127,000
5 Geriatric Physician $239,385 $127,000
6 Medical Director $232,544 $147,000
7 Staff Physician $223,039 $131,000
8 Radiologist $218,803 $108,000
9 Rheumatologist $215,705 $99,000
10 Family Medicine Physician $213,602 $128,000
11 Operator and Truck Driver $208,880 $103,000
12 Neurologist $207,599 $118,000
13 Psychiatrist $205,245 $123,000
14 Internal Medicine Physician $199,256 $121,000
15 Nephrologist $192,684 $116,000
16 Hospitalist $192,044 $124,000
17 Pediatric Neurologist $191,959 $112,000
18 Hematologist $191,599 $90,000
19 Primary Care Physician $190,345 $108,000
20 Family Practice Physician $187,445 $116,000
21 Medical Consultant $178,985 $99,000
22 Associate Professor of Surgery $177,707 $94,000
23 Chief Executive Officer $177,394 $95,000
24 Driver/Owner Operator $171,507 $71,000
25 Assistant Professor of Medicine $159,117 $90,000
26 Owner/Operator $158,903 $97,000

How We Determined the Highest Paid Jobs in New Orleans for 2026

To identify the highest-paying jobs in New Orleans, we analyzed the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and other reputable sources.

Zippia’s data science team has enhanced this information by consistently scanning millions of job postings daily to extract published salary data. These salary figures are then matched to companies, locations, and job titles from various datasets.

Ultimately, we compute a weighted average of these inputs to generate an estimated salary for each job title in New Orleans.

In total, our team examined salary data for over 1,000 job titles in New Orleans to pinpoint the most lucrative positions.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for 2026. This marks our eighth ranking of the highest-paying jobs in New Orleans.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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