A registered nurse in Louisiana earns a median of $80,230 per year and a mean of $84,190. The gap between those two figures reflects a range of specializations and experience levels in the state's nursing workforce. When setting an offer, use the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the candidate's seniority and specialty area.
Registered nurse salary in Louisiana (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in Louisiana is $84,190 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $80,230 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Louisiana employs 48,970 registered nurses, and the $3,960 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in Louisiana typically earn around $63,800, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $104,740 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in Louisiana, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $80,230 |
Average Annual Salary | $84,190 |
vs. National Average | 17.0% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 48,970 employed registered nurses across Louisiana.
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $63,800 |
25th Percentile | $69,040 |
75th Percentile | $93,600 |
90th Percentile | $104,740 |
Employers hiring entry-level registered nurses in Louisiana can expect to anchor offers near $63,800, while experienced specialists command $104,740 or more at the 90th percentile. Setting your offer anywhere between $69,040 and $93,600 will position you competitively for mid-career candidates in this market.
City | Average Annual Salary |
Lake Charles | $89,570 |
Shreveport | $88,850 |
New Orleans | $86,630 |
Lafayette | $84,630 |
Baton Rouge | $84,000 |
Location affects your budget meaningfully when hiring registered nurses in Louisiana, so employers in Lake Charles and Shreveport should plan for higher average compensation than those in Baton Rouge. Lake Charles leads the state at $89,570 on average, while Baton Rouge sits at $84,000, a spread of $5,570 that can add up quickly across a nursing team.
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Louisiana | $84,190 | $80,230 |
Texas | $95,380 | $95,970 |
Florida | $90,650 | $84,190 |
Arkansas | $81,520 | $78,940 |
Mississippi | $78,950 | $77,090 |
Alabama | $77,020 | $77,080 |
Louisiana sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a more cost-effective hiring environment than Texas or Florida but slightly more expensive than Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Texas employers pay an average of $95,380, which is $11,190 more than Louisiana's mean, so Louisiana-based employers face less upward pressure on compensation than their Texas counterparts. Employers near state borders should be aware that Texas and Florida candidates may carry higher salary expectations.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in Louisiana
How much does a RN in Louisiana make?
What do the top-earning registered nurses make in Louisiana?
Registered nurses at the 90th percentile in Louisiana earn $104,740 per year. Senior specialists and nurses in high-demand roles or leadership positions are most likely to reach this level. Budget accordingly if you are filling a charge nurse, clinical specialist, or other advanced role that competes at the top of the market.
What is the average registered nurse salary in Louisiana?
The average registered nurse salary in Louisiana is $84,190 per year, based on BLS OEWS data covering 48,970 employed nurses across the state. The median of $80,230 is a more representative figure for most hiring situations, since a smaller group of higher-compensated roles pulls the mean upward. Use the median as your anchor and adjust your offer range based on the specific seniority and setting of the role you are filling.
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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