The Lafayette, LA metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Lafayette, LA (2026)
The average salary in the Lafayette metro area is $52,120 a year and the median is $41,780: 18% below the US median and 8% below Louisiana's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $47,910, 313th of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $52,120US $69,770
- Median salary
- $41,780US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $20.09BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 87.2US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Lafayette earn
| Percentile | Lafayette area | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,020 | $22,710 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $29,130 | $30,350 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $41,780 | $45,520 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $61,300 | $66,340 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $91,330 | $100,110 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $52,120 | $56,600 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Lafayette
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Lafayette area at 87.2 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $87,210 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items87.2
- Housing (rents)58.8
- Goods93.7
- Utilities71.2
- Other services95.7
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 87.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 58.8 |
| Goods | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 71.2 |
| Other services | 95.7 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Lafayette
Mean annual wage in the Lafayette area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Lafayette area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,640 | $101,420 | -17% |
| Software Developer | $105,000 | $148,100 | -29% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $51,320 | $72,650 | -29% |
| Accountant | $73,590 | $94,750 | -22% |
| Electrician | $59,180 | $71,490 | -17% |
| Truck Driver | $55,200 | $59,710 | -8% |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,920 | $46,590 | -16% |
| Retail Salesperson | $31,300 | $37,310 | -16% |
| Nursing Assistant | $30,850 | $42,700 | -28% |
| General and Operations Manager | $121,370 | $134,940 | -10% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $42,830 | $53,780 | -20% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $28,720 | $38,730 | -26% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Lafayette
BLS publishes estimates for 338 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Nurse Anesthetist$228,950
- 2General Internal Medicine Physician$200,910
- 3Chief Executive$173,660
- 4Dentist$170,020
- 5Architectural and Engineering Manager$155,980
- 6Financial Advisor$141,130
- 7Health Specialties Teacher, Postsecondary$134,680
- 8Financial Manager$134,350
- 9IT Manager$132,330
- 10Lawyer$131,600
Jobs Lafayette pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Coach and Scout$96,170 · +60%
- 2Team Assembler$72,050 · +54%
- 3Industrial Engineer$122,930 · +12%
- 4Aircraft Mechanic$92,160 · +9%
- 5Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$99,760 · +6%
- 6Construction and Building Inspector$82,470 · +6%
- 7Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer, Except Line Installers$72,610 · +6%
- 8Welder$57,600 · +1%
- 9Machinist$59,800 · +1%
- 10Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator$59,720 · 0%
Compare
Other metro areas in Louisiana
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Lafayette: FAQ
What is the average salary in Lafayette?
Across all occupations in the Lafayette, LA metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $52,120 and the median is $41,780, 18% below the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 179,570 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Lafayette?
Above $41,780 out-earns half of workers in the Lafayette area; the top 25% start at $61,300 and the top 10% at $91,330. Prices run 13% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $87,210 here.
Is Lafayette expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Lafayette metro is 87.2 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 58.8, goods 93.7, utilities 71.2. At local prices the median wage is worth $47,910, 313th of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Lafayette?
By mean annual wage: Nurse Anesthetist ($228,950), General Internal Medicine Physician ($200,910), Chief Executive ($173,660), Dentist ($170,020), Architectural and Engineering Manager ($155,980) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).