Nursing Assistant Salary in New Orleans, LA
Nursing Assistants in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $34,320 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,113 take-home, or $2,426 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,938
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,128
- Medicare (1.45%)$498
- Louisiana income tax$643
- Take-home pay$29,113
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,690 | $13.79 | $24,758 | $2,063 |
| 25th percentile | $30,260 | $14.55 | $25,972 | $2,164 |
| Median (50th) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $29,113 | $2,426 |
| 75th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 | $31,047 | $2,587 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,220 | $18.38 | $32,129 | $2,677 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,320 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median nursing assistant's $29,113 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,440 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are about as common in New Orleans, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #109 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 109 | New Orleans, LA | $34,320 | $29,113 | $31,440 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $31,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in New Orleans, LA?
The median nursing assistant salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $34,320 a year, or about $16.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,260 and $36,820.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $34,320 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $29,113 a year ($2,426 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $643 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,440 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #109 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- Medical Assistant — $36,780
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $23,650