Plan transportation systems and policies to improve mobility, safety, and sustainability. Median salary in New Orleans: $78K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in New Orleans, Louisiana. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Transportation Planners in New Orleans earn approximately 5% lower than the US national median for this role — a $4,000 discount on annual base salary. New Orleans's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 92 (US avg = 100).
Adjusted for New Orleans's cost-of-living index (92), the median Transportation Planner salary buys the equivalent of $84,783 in a US-average-cost city. That's $2,783 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
Average 1-bedroom rent in New Orleans ($1,250/mo) consumes approximately 30% of an after-tax median Transportation Planner salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($103K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $78K by 2030.
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The median Transportation Planner salary in New Orleans, LA is $78,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the New Orleans–LA metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Transportation Planners in New Orleans with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $59,000 and $78,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $78,000 to $103,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $103,000 to $133,000 or more.
New Orleans has a cost of living index of 92 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 8% further in New Orleans than the national average. Louisiana has a 6% state income tax rate.
Master's in Urban Planning or Civil Engineering. 35% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.