Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in New Orleans (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in New Orleans was $47,290 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 $107,490.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels at $121,710.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in New Orleans. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes New Orleans-Metairie, LA)) 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 metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. New Orleans-Metairie, LA had about 445,550 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | New Orleans median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $107,490 | 1,560 | $96,710 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $97,890 | 780 | $107,230 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $94,450 | 1,330 | $58,040 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $92,260 | 460 | $78,120 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,990 | 1,880 | $74,450 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $77,980 | 370 | $95,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $77,700 | 2,130 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $77,640 | 2,180 | $79,860 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $77,020 | 930 | $78,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $75,740 | 770 | $106,040 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $72,490 | 490 | $87,520 |
| Food Service Managers | $71,810 | 580 | $69,390 |
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 | New Orleans median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $121,710 | 1,940 | $92,460 |
| Dental Hygienists | $93,650 | 840 | $98,100 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $81,090 | 590 | $63,890 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $76,590 | 620 | $82,280 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $70,740 | 770 | $80,110 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $64,780 | 2,120 | $62,890 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $63,500 | 1,280 | $61,010 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $61,050 | 440 | $93,530 |
The most common jobs in New Orleans, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $30,400 | 12,030 |
| Registered Nurses | $81,850 | 11,530 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,110 | 10,670 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $25,470 | 10,110 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $16,640 | 10,050 |
| Cashiers | $28,370 | 9,320 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,380 | 9,220 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $26,200 | 7,250 |
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 30, 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 New Orleans relative to the nation is sailors and marine oilers, with a location quotient of 21.42. That means those jobs make up about 21.42 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 1,940 of them locally, at a median of $43,630. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes New Orleans-Metairie, LA). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk