Louisiana Income Statistics
Louisiana Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Louisiana Below averageLess wealthy than 90% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Louisiana
- Ascension Parish (113% of U.S. avg)
- St. Charles Parish (107% of U.S. avg)
- St. Tammany Parish (106% of U.S. avg)
- East Carroll Parish (51% of U.S. avg)
- Madison Parish (62% of U.S. avg)
- Claiborne Parish (63% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Louisiana | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $60,934 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,184 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Louisiana is about 24% lower than in US. Income has been growing slower in Louisiana (3.7%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Louisiana earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Louisiana grew by 44.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $60,934 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Louisiana
| Metric | Louisiana | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.574 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,171 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Louisiana, it is 0.574, higher than US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 39% more than women's income in Louisiana. Over a 35-year career, a 39% wage gap accumulates to roughly $634,900 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Louisiana has narrowed from about 32% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013, and was narrowest at 28% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,767 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Louisiana | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 135,044 people are unemployed in Louisiana.
The average commute time in Louisiana is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Louisiana has fallen from 8.0% to 6.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2013.
Louisiana Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Louisiana is typical in size for this group, 4,610,276 residents against a local median of 4,028,385, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Louisiana apart most is unemployment: 6.2%, 27% above the local median of 4.9%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.7%/yr against a local median of 4.6%/yr, 20% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Louisiana reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The states themselves spread 1.1% on unemployment, so Louisiana sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Louisiana has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 4,610,276 | $60,934 #5/6 | 3.7%/yr #6/6 | 6.2% #6/6 | 0.574 #6/6 |
| Mississippi | 2,946,497 | $56,669 | 4.3%/yr | 5.7% | 0.566 |
| Arkansas | 3,049,066 | $60,940 | 4.6%/yr | 4.9% | 0.551 |
| Alabama | 5,083,438 | $64,544 | 4.7%/yr | 4.7% | 0.560 |
| Oklahoma | 4,028,385 | $65,606 | 3.9%/yr | 4.9% | 0.553 |
| Tennessee | 7,058,506 | $69,901 | 5.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.542 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Louisiana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Louisiana.
How Rich Is Louisiana?
Louisiana has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $60,934, about 24% lower than the US average of $80,455.
How has median household income changed in Louisiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Louisiana rose 44%, from $42,291 to $60,934. Over the same years, income here lagged behind the U.S. as a whole: +44% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Louisiana in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Louisiana was $60,038, up 4% from $57,999 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Louisiana in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Louisiana was $51,010. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $60,934.
What is the Gini coefficient in Louisiana?
The Gini coefficient in Louisiana is 0.574. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Louisiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Louisiana has narrowed from about 32% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013, and was narrowest at 28% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,767 since 2009.
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