Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Louisiana (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Louisiana was $45,520 in May 2025, below the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, at a median of $106,640.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels at $117,160.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Louisiana. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates for Louisiana) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the state that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Louisiana had about 1,934,900 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 1,000 positions in the state, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Louisiana median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $106,640 | 3,490 | $96,710 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $100,060 | 3,400 | $78,120 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $93,650 | 2,840 | $107,230 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $78,580 | 6,430 | $58,040 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,520 | 9,350 | $74,450 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $76,410 | 2,520 | $95,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $75,550 | 10,490 | $79,860 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,360 | 14,070 | $79,920 |
| Boilermakers | $73,980 | 1,220 | $76,410 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $73,700 | 1,840 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $70,470 | 3,120 | $106,040 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $68,830 | 1,180 | $62,780 |
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Louisiana median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $117,160 | 6,830 | $92,460 |
| Dental Hygienists | $85,240 | 2,690 | $98,100 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $82,990 | 1,000 | $78,190 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $80,710 | 1,150 | $96,590 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $80,210 | 3,060 | $63,890 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $79,780 | 1,150 | $79,870 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $75,240 | 2,520 | $82,280 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $65,370 | 1,670 | $68,380 |
The most common jobs in Louisiana, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $29,490 | 49,570 |
| Registered Nurses | $80,230 | 48,970 |
| Cashiers | $26,750 | 46,350 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,800 | 45,720 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $22,520 | 45,060 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $35,340 | 43,730 |
| General and Operations Managers | $101,790 | 43,220 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | 33,870 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published October 27, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Louisiana relative to the nation is sailors and marine oilers, with a location quotient of 19.2. That means those jobs make up about 19.2 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 7,580 of them locally, at a median of $46,610. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates for Louisiana.