Metairie Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Metairie, LA: $22.73/hr median hourly wage, $47,290 median annual salary, cost of living index 89.4, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Louisiana taxes.
Metairie Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Metairie, LA is $22.73/hr,and the median annual wage is $47,290. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.09/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.28/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area (445,550 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Metairie shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$47,290
$22.73/hr
Cost of Living
89.4
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
4.2%
rate
Metairie, LA Overview
Population
138,481
Median Salary
$47,290
Average Salary
$61,050
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$215,000
Median Rent
$929/mo
Job Growth
+2.4%
Sales Tax
4.45%
Metairie is located in Louisiana with a population of 138,481. The median annual wage across all occupations is $47,290 ($22.73/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro), which is $3,690 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 19 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.4%.
Metairie Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Metairie, LA built around the $47,290 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $29,320 | $14.09/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $47,290 | $22.73/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $67,152 | $32.28/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $84,176 | $40.46/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Metairie Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Metairie, LA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,145
$3,262.09/month · $1,505.58/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.2%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,505.58 take-home per paycheck after estimated Louisiana and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$47,290
Federal Tax
-$3,495
State Tax
-$1,032
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,618
Net Pay
$39,145
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,940.83 | $47,290.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$291.23 | -$3,494.80 |
| Louisiana State Tax (2.18% eff.) | -$86.04 | -$1,032.45 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$244.33 | -$2,931.98 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$57.14 | -$685.71 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,262.09 | $39,145.07 |
Salary Comparison: Metairie vs Other Cities
See how Metairie's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie, LA | $47,290 | 89.4 | $52,897 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| New Orleans, LA | $47,290 | 96 | $49,260 |
| Kenner, LA | $47,290 | 92.5 | $51,124 |
| Marrero, LA | $47,290 | 89.5 | $52,838 |
| Horizon West, FL | $47,279 | 101.8 | $46,443 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Metairie
Metairie's cost of living index is 89.4 (national average = 100). Living in Metairie is 10.599999999999994% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$215,000
Median Monthly Rent
$929
Annual Rent Cost
$11,148
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,145 annual take-home pay in Metairie has the purchasing power of approximately $43,786 in an average-cost US area. Your $47,290 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Metairie
Metairie's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $47,290.
Salary Tips for Metairie Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Metairie has a cost of living 10.599999999999994% below the national average. A salary of $47,290 here has the purchasing power of about $52,897 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Metairie's top industries include Energy, Petrochemical, Tourism. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $47,290 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Metairie salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Metairie indexed at 89.4.
- Median salary: $47,290 annual, $22.73 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, New Orleans-Metairie, LA MSA (445,550 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $61,050 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Metairie was $41,597.
- Tax burden reflects Louisiana 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (4.45%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Metairie: 4.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Energy, Petrochemical, Tourism, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.4% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Louisiana.
- Housing context: median home price $215,000, median rent $929/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Metairie, LA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Metairie unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Metairie QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Louisiana, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Metairie's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Louisiana labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Metairie, LA?
The median hourly wage in Metairie, LA is $22.73 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $47,290. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.09/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.28/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Metairie, LA?
The median salary in Metairie, LA is $47,290 per year, or $22.73 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $61,050. This is $3,690 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Metairie, LA?
Metairie's cost of living index is 89.4 (national average = 100), meaning it is 10.599999999999994% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $215,000 and the median monthly rent is $929.
What are the best industries in Metairie?
The top industries in Metairie, LA include Energy, Petrochemical, Tourism. The city has a job growth rate of 2.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $47,290.
How does Metairie's salary compare to other cities?
Metairie's median salary of $47,290 is 7.2% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 89.4), the real purchasing power is approximately $52,897.
What is the minimum wage in Metairie, LA?
The minimum wage in Metairie, LA is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.