How Much Does an RN Make in Lafayette, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Lafayette, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Louisiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lafayette metro area
A typical RN in Lafayette, Louisiana earns $39.41 per hour, or $81,960 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,830 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $63,490, and the top 10% of earners make over $105,300.
That pay is 2% above the Louisiana figure of $80,230 and 16% below the national figure of $97,550. Lafayette ranks 2nd of 10 metro areas in Louisiana for RN pay. About 4,930 RNs work in the Lafayette area.
RN pay in Lafayette at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.41 an hour, or $81,960 a year.
- That is 2% above the Louisiana figure, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $63,490; the top 10% make over $105,300.
- Typical pay rose +48% from 2015 to 2025, against +34% for Louisiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Lafayette?
Pay in Lafayette runs from entry-level positions at around $30.52 an hour to more than $50.63 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Lafayette
| Career stage | Lafayette | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $63,490$30.52 an hour | $63,800$30.67 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $68,150$32.77 an hour | $69,040$33.19 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $81,960$39.41 an hour | $80,230$38.57 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,600$45.00 an hour | $93,600$45.00 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $105,300$50.63 an hour | $104,740$50.36 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lafayette area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Lafayette
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Lafayette area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Lafayette was $55,480 a year. By 2025 it had reached $81,960, a change of +48%, compared with +34% for Louisiana over the same years.
How Lafayette compares with other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles pays RNs the most in Louisiana at $90,690 a year, $8,730 more than Lafayette. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bayou Cane at $75,740.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lafayette | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles | $90,690 | $43.60 | +11% | 2,460 |
| 2 | Lafayette | $81,960 | $39.41 | this city | 4,930 |
| 3 | Metairie metro incl. New Orleans | $81,850 | $39.35 | 0% | 11,530 |
| 4 | Alexandria | $81,680 | $39.27 | 0% | 2,170 |
| 5 | Covington metro incl. Slidell · Mandeville | $81,160 | $39.02 | -1% | 3,190 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | $81,130 | $39.00 | -1% | 8,290 |
| 7 | Shreveport metro incl. Bossier City | $80,080 | $38.50 | -2% | 6,390 |
| 8 | Monroe | $78,270 | $37.63 | -5% | 2,340 |
| 9 | Hammond | $76,200 | $36.64 | -7% | 1,260 |
| 10 | Houma metro incl. Thibodaux · Bayou Cane | $75,740 | $36.41 | -8% | 1,460 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $80,230
Is Lafayette a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Lafayette earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $81,960 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lafayette area, about 27 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Lafayette, LA?
- A typical RN in Lafayette earns $81,960 a year, or $39.41 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $63,490 and the top 10% earn over $105,300.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Lafayette?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Lafayette is $39.41. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.52, and the top 10% earn over $50.63 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Lafayette?
- Entry-level RN positions in Lafayette typically offer around $30.52 an hour, or $63,490 a year.
- Is RN pay in Lafayette higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- Lafayette pay is 2% above the Louisiana figure of $80,230 a year, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state. Lake Charles pays the most in Louisiana at $90,690.