Registered Nurse Salary in New Orleans, LA
Registered Nurses in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $81,850 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,342 take-home, or $5,362 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,177
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,075
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,187
- Louisiana income tax$2,069
- Take-home pay$64,342
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,660 | $31.57 | $53,354 | $4,446 |
| 25th percentile | $75,030 | $36.07 | $59,749 | $4,979 |
| Median (50th) | $81,850 | $39.35 | $64,342 | $5,362 |
| 75th percentile | $95,140 | $45.74 | $73,293 | $6,108 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,180 | $49.61 | $78,708 | $6,559 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,850 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 registered nurse's $64,342 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,486 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in New Orleans, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #257 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 257 | New Orleans, LA | $81,850 | $64,342 | $69,486 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Lake Charles, LA — $90,690
- Alexandria, LA — $81,680
- Shreveport, LA — $80,080
- Monroe, LA — $78,270
- Lafayette, LA — $81,960
- Hammond, LA — $76,200
- Houma, LA — $75,740
- Baton Rouge, LA — $81,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in New Orleans, LA?
The median registered nurse salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $81,850 a year, or about $39.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,030 and $95,140.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $81,850 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $64,342 a year ($5,362 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,069 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,486 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #257 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 21% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $128,100
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,800
- Physical Therapist — $100,530
- Dental Hygienist — $93,650
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $77,420
- Respiratory Therapist — $76,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $70,740
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other — $63,240
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $60,640
- Surgical Technologist — $58,660
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $55,540