Accountant salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
New Orleans-Metairie is the most expensive place in Louisiana to hire an accountant. The median is $77,940 a year1, 5.6% above the Louisiana statewide median of $73,810 and 6.9% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #194 of 521 areas. With about 3,740 accountants, 27% of the Louisiana total, no area in Louisiana employs more.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area New Orleans-Metairie, LA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in New Orleans-Metairie against Louisiana and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $52,630 | $77,940 | $121,170 | |
| Louisiana | $48,950 | $73,810 | $117,110 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in New Orleans-Metairie earns $62,550–$98,540. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $121,170, only 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $35,990 wide, between the figure for Louisiana ($31,870) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,630 | $4,386 | $25.30 | $67,910 |
| 25th percentile | $62,550 | $5,212 | $30.07 | $80,710 |
| Median | $77,940 | $6,495 | $37.47 | $100,568 |
| 75th percentile | $98,540 | $8,212 | $47.38 | $127,148 |
| 90th percentile | $121,170 | $10,098 | $58.25 | $156,348 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,390 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $20,600, or about $26,581 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in New Orleans-Metairie, and the Louisiana statewide median of $73,810 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in New Orleans-Metairie
At the $77,940 median, a local hire costs about $100,568 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,628 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in New Orleans-Metairie
Of the 17 roles we track in New Orleans-Metairie, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($85,410); marketing specialists come next at $65,590.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +9.6% | 2,090 | |
| Accountant | this role | 3,740 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -15.8% | 1,580 | |
| Paralegal | -16.9% | 2,120 | |
| Recruiter | -16.9% | 1,900 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in New Orleans-Metairie (-6.9%), between virtual receptionists (-5.9%) and bookkeepers (-7.3%). The typical role here is at -11.9%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in New Orleans-Metairie than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 9.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in New Orleans-Metairie, 8.2% across Louisiana and 9.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Louisiana
Across the 13 areas of Louisiana with data for this job, the median runs from $64,090 in the Southwest Louisiana nonmetro area to $77,940 in New Orleans-Metairie, a gap of $13,850 a year. No other area in Louisiana has as many accountants, and all 12 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs New Orleans-Metairie | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | this area | 3,740 | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -4.3% | 480 | |
| Monroe, LA | -5.3% | 510 | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | -6.2% | 3,410 | |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -7.0% | 770 | |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | -9.6% | 1,250 | |
| Lake Charles, LA | -10.1% | 600 |
New Orleans-Metairie against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, New Orleans-Metairie is #58 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Louisiana, Flagstaff and Grants Pass pay just above New Orleans-Metairie and South Bend-Mishawaka and Wilmington just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in New Orleans-Metairie. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs New Orleans-Metairie | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | +2.9% | 3,300 | jobs | |
| Albuquerque, NM | +2.5% | 3,260 | jobs | |
| Grants Pass, OR | +0.2% | 130 | pay | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | +0.1% | 380 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | this area | 3,740 | ||
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | +0.0% | 1,020 | pay | |
| Wilmington, NC | -0.0% | 1,520 | pay | |
| Honolulu, HI | -3.8% | 3,590 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About $100,568 a year at the median, or $8,381 a month: $77,940 in pay plus about $22,628 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in New Orleans-Metairie?
The median was $77,940 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $52,630, the 90th $121,170, and the middle half earned $62,550 to $98,540.
Is New Orleans-Metairie the most expensive area in Louisiana for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $77,940 is the highest of 13 areas in Louisiana. Houma-Bayou Cane comes next at $74,620.
How many accountants work in New Orleans-Metairie?
BLS counts about 3,740 in the May 2025 survey. That is 27% of the Louisiana total of 14,050. No other area in Louisiana has as many.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in New Orleans-Metairie?
Yes: $12,350 a year more at the median. The medians are $77,940 and $65,590.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.