Louisiana Median
$80,230
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.57
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-18% vs US median
US median $97,550
State Rank
#44 of 51
48,970 employed here
How much does a Registered Nurse make in Louisiana?
A Registered Nurse working in Louisiana earns a median salary of $80,230 per year, or about $38.57 per hour. That is 18% below the national median of $97,550 for this occupation.
Within Louisiana, entry-level pay starts around $63,800 while the top 10% make $104,740 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $69,040 and $93,600 a year.
Registered Nurse salary range in Louisiana
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,800 | $30.67 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $69,040 | $33.19 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $80,230 | $38.57 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $93,600 | $45.00 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,740 | $50.36 |
|
How Louisiana compares
Louisiana ranks 44th out of 51 states and territories for Registered Nurse pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Registered Nurse salary in other states
California $140,270Hawaii $136,320Oregon $129,010Washington $124,200Alaska $109,480New York $109,440New Jersey $106,500Massachusetts $104,550Nevada $103,670Connecticut $102,740District of Columbia $102,540Minnesota $101,510Rhode Island $100,640Colorado $100,260Maryland $99,790New Hampshire $99,700Delaware $99,520Arizona $99,500Vermont $97,460Pennsylvania $96,430Illinois $95,990Texas $95,970Wisconsin $95,530New Mexico $94,340Michigan $94,300Virginia $93,600Georgia $93,550Idaho $92,460Maine $86,990Montana $85,280Nebraska $84,730Utah $84,600North Carolina $84,350Florida $84,190Wyoming $83,760Indiana $83,500Oklahoma $82,920Ohio $82,510South Carolina $82,360Missouri $81,780Tennessee $81,500Kentucky $81,040North Dakota $80,730West Virginia $80,130Kansas $79,320Arkansas $78,940Iowa $78,630South Dakota $78,060Mississippi $77,090Alabama $77,080
Working as a Registered Nurse in Louisiana
Nationally, about 3,380,000 people work as Registered Nurses in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Louisiana pay ($80,230) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Registered Nurse make in Louisiana?
The median Registered Nurse salary in Louisiana is $80,230 per year, or about $38.57 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $63,800 at the entry level to $104,740 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Louisiana pay compare to the national average?
Louisiana pays Registered Nurses about 18% less than the national median of $97,550. Louisiana ranks 44th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Louisiana a good state for Registered Nurses?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $80,230 a year. About 48,970 Registered Nurses are employed in Louisiana. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Louisiana?
The highest-paying occupations in Louisiana include Pediatrician, General ($502,720), Anesthesiologist ($410,500), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($404,550), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Registered Nurse salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.