Louisiana's average nurse practitioner salary of $126,630 places it below Texas ($131,420), Florida ($130,410), and Arkansas ($130,260), but above Mississippi ($125,340) and Alabama ($110,970). For employers, this means Louisiana is a moderately cost-effective market within the region. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from Texas or Florida, plan to close a gap of roughly $4,000 to $5,000 in average compensation.
Nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana (2026)
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The average nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana is $126,630 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $125,600 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Louisiana employs 5,380 nurse practitioners, and the $1,030 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior nurse practitioners in Louisiana typically earn around $99,050, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the 90th percentile threshold of $159,570. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $125,600 |
Average Annual Salary | $126,630 |
vs. National Average | 7.8% below the national mean of $137,300 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 5,380 employed nurse practitioners across Louisiana.
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Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in Louisiana
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $99,050 |
25th Percentile | $109,850 |
75th Percentile | $135,610 |
90th Percentile | $159,570 |
Employers setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in Louisiana should expect a meaningful spread depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $99,050, while senior specialists in Louisiana typically reach or exceed $159,570, giving you a practical range to anchor your compensation structure.
Nurse practitioner salary by city in Louisiana
City | Average Annual Salary |
Lake Charles | $131,490 |
Baton Rouge | $130,450 |
New Orleans | $128,310 |
Shreveport | $127,310 |
Lafayette | $115,980 |
Location can meaningfully shift your compensation budget when hiring a nurse practitioner in Louisiana. Lake Charles leads the state at $131,490 in average annual salary, while Lafayette sits notably lower at $115,980, a difference that gives employers in lower-cost markets more flexibility when setting offers. If you are hiring across multiple locations, build city-specific pay bands rather than applying a single statewide figure.
How Louisiana compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Louisiana | $126,630 | $125,600 |
Texas | $131,420 | $131,670 |
Florida | $130,410 | $129,510 |
Arkansas | $130,260 | $125,660 |
Mississippi | $125,340 | $124,730 |
Alabama | $110,970 | $105,750 |
Louisiana is a cost-effective market for nurse practitioner hiring relative to most of its regional peers. The state's average of $126,630 trails Texas at $131,420 and Florida at $130,410, but sits above Mississippi at $125,340 and well above Alabama at $110,970. Employers recruiting across state lines should expect candidates from Texas or Florida to carry higher salary expectations than the Louisiana market typically supports.
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana
How does Louisiana compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?
What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in Louisiana?
Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in Louisiana earn $159,570 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $135,610, so the jump to senior-level compensation is meaningful. When budgeting for a highly experienced or specialized hire, anchoring your offer closer to $135,610 to $159,570 will keep you competitive for that segment of the candidate pool.
What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in Louisiana?
The published salary range for nurse practitioners in Louisiana runs from $99,050 at the 10th percentile to $159,570 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $109,850 at the 25th percentile and $135,610 at the 75th percentile. Use the 25th-to-75th range as your core budgeting band and adjust toward the upper end for candidates with specialized experience or supervisory responsibilities.
What is the average nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana?
The average nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana is $126,630 per year, with a median of $125,600. The close alignment between the mean and median tells you the market is relatively consistent, without extreme outliers distorting the typical pay level. For most hiring decisions, the median of $125,600 is the more reliable anchor when setting an initial offer.
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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