How Much Does a Paramedic Make in New Orleans, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for Paramedics in New Orleans, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Louisiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · New Orleans · Metairie metro area
A typical Paramedic in New Orleans, Louisiana earns $28.47 per hour, or $59,210 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,934 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,990, and the top 10% of earners make over $64,090.
That pay is 6% above the Louisiana figure of $56,050 and 2% below the national figure of $60,600. New Orleans ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Louisiana for Paramedic pay. About 350 Paramedics work in the New Orleans · Metairie area. New Orleans is part of the New Orleans · Metairie metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Metairie share these figures.
Paramedic pay in New Orleans at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.47 an hour, or $59,210 a year.
- That is 6% above the Louisiana figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,990; the top 10% make over $64,090.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Paramedic make in New Orleans?
Pay in New Orleans runs from entry-level positions at around $23.07 an hour to more than $30.81 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
Paramedic pay by career stage in New Orleans
| Career stage | New Orleans | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $47,990$23.07 an hour | $37,530$18.04 an hour | $44,230$21.27 an hour |
| First years | $50,680$24.36 an hour | $47,700$22.93 an hour | $49,660$23.88 an hour |
| Typical Paramedic | $59,210$28.47 an hour | $56,050$26.95 an hour | $60,600$29.13 an hour |
| Experienced | $61,080$29.37 an hour | $61,080$29.37 an hour | $73,470$35.32 an hour |
| Top 10% | $64,090$30.81 an hour | $63,470$30.52 an hour | $84,850$40.80 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the New Orleans · Metairie area as BLS defines it
Paramedic pay growth in New Orleans
Typical (median) annual wage for Paramedics in the New Orleans · Metairie area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical Paramedic pay in New Orleans was $46,640 a year. By 2025 it had reached $59,210.
How New Orleans compares with other Louisiana cities
Lafayette pays Paramedics the most in Louisiana at $61,880 a year, $2,670 more than New Orleans. The lowest-paying area in the state is Shreveport at $48,780.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs New Orleans | Paramedics employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | $61,880 | $29.75 | +5% | 370 |
| 2 | New Orleans metro incl. Metairie | $59,210 | $28.47 | this city | 350 |
| 3 | Covington metro incl. Slidell · Mandeville | $58,520 | $28.13 | -1% | 80 |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | $53,820 | $25.87 | -9% | 430 |
| 5 | Alexandria | $51,940 | $24.97 | -12% | 70 |
| 6 | Houma metro incl. Bayou Cane · Thibodaux | $49,880 | $23.98 | -16% | 80 |
| 7 | Monroe | $49,270 | $23.69 | -17% | 80 |
| 8 | Bossier City metro incl. Shreveport | $48,780 | $23.45 | -18% | 150 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with Paramedic wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $56,050
Is New Orleans a good place to work as a Paramedic?
Paramedic pay in New Orleans sits close to the national figure: $59,210 a year, 2% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the New Orleans · Metairie area, about 0.8 are Paramedic positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.6. That makes the local economy more reliant on Paramedics than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Paramedic make in New Orleans, LA?
- A typical Paramedic in New Orleans earns $59,210 a year, or $28.47 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $47,990 and the top 10% earn over $64,090.
- How much does a Paramedic make an hour in New Orleans?
- Typical hourly pay for Paramedics in New Orleans is $28.47. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.07, and the top 10% earn over $30.81 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Paramedic in New Orleans?
- Entry-level Paramedic positions in New Orleans typically offer around $23.07 an hour, or $47,990 a year.
- Is Paramedic pay in New Orleans higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- New Orleans pay is 6% above the Louisiana figure of $56,050 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Lafayette pays the most in Louisiana at $61,880.