Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in New Orleans

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Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in New Orleans

Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

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#48. Physical therapist aides

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $23,150
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)

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Pixabay

#47. Psychiatric aides

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $24,010
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,590
- Employment: 55,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($48,280)
--- Rochester, NY ($45,890)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($45,010)

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#46. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $24,870
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)

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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#45. Nursing assistants

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $24,900
- #354 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)

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#44. Pharmacy aides

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $26,040
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)

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YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV // Shutterstock

#43. Occupational therapy aides

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $26,220
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $34,310
- Employment: 7,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($66,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,740)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($43,240)

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#42. Orderlies

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $26,600
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)

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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#41. Veterinary technologists and technicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $27,260
- #292 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)

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#40. Dietetic technicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $29,990
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)

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Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#39. Psychiatric technicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $30,790
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)

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Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#38. Medical assistants

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $31,220
- #285 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,790

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)

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#37. Medical equipment preparers

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $32,270
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#36. Medical transcriptionists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $33,790
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#35. Phlebotomists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $34,020
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#34. Dental assistants

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $34,370
- #340 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,800

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)

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Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#33. Pharmacy technicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $34,440
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,790

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)

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Rido // Shutterstock

#32. Opticians, dispensing

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $35,070
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)

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#31. Ophthalmic medical technicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $39,610
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)

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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#30. Surgical technologists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $42,050
- #218 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#29. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $44,030
- #252 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,910

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#28. Athletic trainers

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $44,230
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)

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#27. Recreational therapists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $45,490
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)

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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#26. Respiratory therapists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $55,250
- #204 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)

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#25. Dietitians and nutritionists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $55,420
- #210 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)

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#24. Physical therapist assistants

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $55,640
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)

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lenetstan // Shutterstock

#23. Radiologic technologists and technicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $56,250
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)

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#22. Occupational therapy assistants

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $62,420
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)

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#21. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $64,400
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)

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#20. Dental hygienists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $65,790
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)

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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#19. Diagnostic medical sonographers

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $65,910
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)

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#18. Orthotists and prosthetists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)

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#17. Nuclear medicine technologists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $68,340
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)

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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#16. Registered nurses

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $69,500
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)

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#15. Radiation therapists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $73,760
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)

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Kzenon // Shutterstock

#14. Optometrists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $79,880
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)

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#13. Speech-language pathologists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $81,640
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)

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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#12. Occupational therapists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $83,610
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)

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Austin Community College // Flickr

#11. Veterinarians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $86,800
- #222 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)

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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#10. Physical therapists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $87,420
- #208 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)

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Ohiodominican // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Physician assistants

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $88,150
- #292 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#8. Nurse practitioners

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $106,840
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)

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KSai23 // Shutterstock

#7. Chiropractors

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)

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Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#6. Pharmacists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $119,260
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,550

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)

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#5. Nurse anesthetists

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $154,200
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)

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#4. Dentists, general

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $157,700
- #228 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)

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#3. Pediatricians, general

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $158,720
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)

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#2. Family medicine physicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $186,410
- #214 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)

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#1. General internal medicine physicians

New Orleans-Metairie, LA
- Annual mean salary: $201,140
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)

Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in New Orleans