Lawyers pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $290,190 or more. The middle half of lawyers in New Orleans earn between $78,890 and $164,310.
- $63K10th
- $79K25th
- $121KMedian
- $164K75th
- $290K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $144,250 | $12,021 | $69.35 |
| Median | $121,290 | $10,108 | $58.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,890 | $6,574 | $37.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,310 | $13,692 | $79.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Lawyers in New Orleans earn 13% more than the Louisiana average ($127,520) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $144,250 | $121,290 | $62,530 | $290,190 | 4,330 |
| Louisiana | $127,520 | $104,100 | $50,140 | $227,230 | 10,200 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in New Orleans
On the average salary of $144,250, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $105,920 a year, or $8,827 a month and $4,074 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $144,250 buys what about $155,783 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 1st of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- New Orleans$144,250
- Alexandria$139,710
- Lafayette$131,600
- Lake Charles$122,000
- Monroe$116,840
- Shreveport$115,550
- Baton Rouge$112,100
- Hammond$103,010
- Houma$101,700
- Slidell$101,630
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in New Orleans: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in New Orleans?
$69.35 an hour on average, and $58.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $105,920 a year ($8,827 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $144,250.
Do lawyers earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.00, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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