Louisiana RN Salary - How Much Do RNs Make in LA?

The state of Louisiana employed 40,600 registered nurses as of May 2018 according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The average RN salary in Louisiana at that time was $60,380, or about $29.03 an hour. Those in the lower tenth percentile for this salary earned $42,670 or less. Those in the lower 25th percentile earned $50,540 or less. Those in the upper 25th percentile for annual wages earned at least $71,800, and ten percent of these nurses earned $83,700 or more. The average salary in Louisiana for this occupation is below the national average, but the cost of living is also lower.The New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner metropolitan area employs a majority of Louisiana’s registered nurses. This part of the state employed 12,210 RNs in 2018. This area also has the highest median annual salary for this occupation. Registered nurses here earned an average of $64,710 per year at the time when the BLS data was collected. This median salary is still below the national average. According to Forbes, the cost of living in New Orleans is about 3.2 percent higher than the national average cost of living.

The city with the lowest RN salary in Louisiana is Monroe. This city employed approximately 1,830 registered nurses as of May 2018. The median RN salary here was $55,930. The top 25th percentile earned upwards of $68,920. Those in the bottom 25th percentile earned $45,200 or less. Lafayette is the city with the second lowest median salary. Some of this difference may be made up for with a lower cost of living.

Louisiana RNs, like those employed elsewhere, can increase their earning potential in a number of ways. One of these ways is by taking advantage of continuing education opportunities. Another is to pursue certification in the specialty area of one’s choice. In addition, nurses with more experience are likely to earn a higher salary.