Lafayette Employment

Employment and Industries in the Lafayette, Louisiana Area

Lafayette is regarded as the economic and retail center of the Acadiana area. The petroleum and gas industry is a major factor for the economy. Lafayette also has a prominent tourism industry. Lafayette's largest job providing sectors are healthcare, education, oil and gas, social assistance; arts, entertainment and recreation; professional, scientific and technical services; and accommodation and food services.

About 35% of the labor force is comprised of management, professional and related workers. About 26% of the labor force is found in sales and office occupations.

Some of the most common jobs where the majority of the workers are college graduates are registered nurses, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, lawyers, sales managers, financial managers, petroleum engineers, pharmacists, mechanical engineers and educational, vocational and school counselors.

The following is a list of the top employers in the Lafayette region:

  • School Board Lafayette Parish - Education
  • Lafayette Consolidated Government - Government
  • Univ of La Lafayette - Education
  • Lafayette General Medical CTR - Healthcare
  • Walmart Stores Inc - Retail trade
  • Island Operating Company - Oil and gas
  • Stuller Inc - Manufacturing
  • Halliburton Energy SVC - Oil and gas
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Reg Med CT - Healthcare
  • Cingular Wireless - Telecommunications
  • University Medical CTR - Healthcare
  • Omni Energy Services, Corp - Oil and gas
  • Mac-Laff Inc - Service
  • Moncla Well Service Inc - Oil and gas
  • Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services Inc - Healthcare/transportation
  • ESS Support Services Worldwide - Retail Trade
  • The Ace Group - Transportation
  • Frank's Casing Crew - Oil and gas
  • Women's & Children's Hospital - Healthcare
  • Lafayette Parish government - Government

Pertinent data about Lafayette, Louisiana: Approximately 31% of the residents over the age of 25 have earned a bachelor's degree or better. In 2009 the average earnings in Lafayette was $35,000. In 2008 the cost of living index was at 85.9 which is less than the nation's average of 100.

Lafayette companies are able to collaborate with helpful associations including:

People interested in staying current with local business and industry news can visit theadvertiser.com

Jobs in Lafayette

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations198590$41,620$20.01100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations26050$33,800$16.2513.75
3Sales and Related Occupations23460$34,400$16.549.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations18430$20,890$10.048.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations17740$35,500$17.076.7
6Production Occupations15260$41,380$19.895.6
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations13760$60,930$29.295.85
8Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations11560$44,080$21.193.75
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations11450$40,670$19.566
10Construction and Extraction Occupations11350$44,770$21.524.6
11Healthcare Support Occupations10260$23,980$11.532.85
12Management Occupations8750$104,010$506.35
13Cashiers8340$19,910$9.572.2
14Business and Financial Operations Occupations7160$61,580$29.65.35
15Retail Salespersons5560$26,680$12.832.7
16Home Health and Personal Care Aides5090$20,720$9.960
17Office Clerks, General4960$26,440$12.711.9
18Food Preparation Workers4740$18,540$8.910.5
19Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations4610$23,790$11.443.6
20Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand4370$27,530$13.241.8
21General and Operations Managers3880$122,560$58.921.5
22Protective Service Occupations3720$36,940$17.762.2
23Registered Nurses3510$60,940$29.31.95
24Personal Care and Service Occupations3490$24,650$11.854.65
25Waiters and Waitresses3420$19,980$9.611.65
26Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive3410$30,300$14.571.4
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products3320$63,620$30.590.85
28Architecture and Engineering Occupations3140$73,220$35.21.7
29Fast Food and Counter Workers3030$19,220$9.242.45
30Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks2810$37,930$18.241.05
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses2810$38,640$18.580.5
32Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers2720$40,590$19.521.2
33Community and Social Service Occupations2530$42,940$20.651.75
34Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers2490$45,390$21.820.3
35Maintenance and Repair Workers, General2430$34,880$16.770.9
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers2350$49,730$23.910.95
37First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers2310$38,760$18.640.95
38Nursing Assistants2280$21,060$10.130.95
39Customer Service Representatives2270$31,980$15.381.75
40Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2220$21,190$10.191.5
41Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other2070$52,840$25.40.7
42Stockers and Order Fillers2040$24,490$11.781.25
43Light Truck Drivers2020$29,440$14.150.6
44Receptionists and Information Clerks1610$25,370$12.20.7
45Construction Laborers1540$35,070$16.860.9
46Machinists1520$45,850$22.050.2
47Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1480$47,040$22.620.35
48Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations1460$37,080$17.831.8
49Computer and Mathematical Occupations1450$64,940$31.223
50Legal Occupations1450$72,730$34.970.8
51Production Workers, All Other1350$33,030$15.880.15
52First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1340$31,190$14.990.6
53Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other1320$88,260$42.430.7
54Accountants and Auditors1310$68,400$32.890.9
55Cooks, Restaurant1290$24,830$11.940.9
56First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1220$67,780$32.590.4
57Childcare Workers1200$19,390$9.320.7
58Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants1190$39,300$18.90.35
59Electricians1180$47,430$22.80.45
60Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations1180$69,720$33.520.8
61First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1140$69,480$33.40.4
62Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers1110$43,580$20.950.4
63First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers1050$62,610$30.10.3
64Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas1010$54,220$26.070
65Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1000$37,470$18.010.5
66Industrial Machinery Mechanics990$49,390$23.750.2
67Helpers--Production Workers980$31,590$15.190.2
68First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors960$50,210$24.140.3
69Bartenders950$18,740$9.010.4
70Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics950$46,850$22.530
71Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners950$19,810$9.530.9
72Security Guards910$24,590$11.820.7
73Lawyers900$91,440$43.960.5
74Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators900$41,380$19.90.25
75Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers850$21,710$10.440.1
76Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers840$28,520$13.710.75
77Medical Assistants820$30,330$14.580.45
78Tellers800$27,820$13.370.25
79Cooks, Fast Food760$20,890$10.050.3
80Driver/Sales Workers750$23,380$11.240.3
81Pharmacy Technicians700$32,130$15.450.3
82Riggers700$44,450$21.370
83Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel700$50,860$24.450.7
84Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other690$39,600$19.040
85Insurance Sales Agents680$49,190$23.650.3
86Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment660$20,980$10.090.3
87Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors620$54,410$26.160.2
88Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks610$34,550$16.610.4
89Financial Managers590$102,590$49.320.4
90Loan Officers570$49,510$23.80.2
91Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other570$38,630$18.570
92Parts Salespersons570$32,390$15.570.2
93Roustabouts, Oil and Gas570$42,610$20.490
94Carpenters560$41,870$20.130.6
95Dishwashers550$19,090$9.180.3
96Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop550$19,410$9.330.3
97Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators550$36,850$17.720.8
98Dental Assistants540$34,820$16.740.2
99Maintenance Workers, Machinery530$43,730$21.020.1
100Pharmacists520$116,610$56.060.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Lafayette Colleges
Lafayette colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Lafayette Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$41,620198,590
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$33,80026,050
Sales and Related Occupations$34,40023,460
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$20,89018,430
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,50017,740
Production Occupations$41,38015,260
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$60,93013,760
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$44,08011,560
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$40,67011,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$44,77011,350
Healthcare Support Occupations$23,98010,260
Management Occupations$104,0108,750
Cashiers$19,9108,340
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$61,5807,160
Retail Salespersons$26,6805,560
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$20,7205,090
Office Clerks, General$26,4404,960
Food Preparation Workers$18,5404,740
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$23,7904,610
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,5304,370
General and Operations Managers$122,5603,880
Protective Service Occupations$36,9403,720
Registered Nurses$60,9403,510
Personal Care and Service Occupations$24,6503,490
Waiters and Waitresses$19,9803,420
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$30,3003,410
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,6203,320
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$73,2203,140
Fast Food and Counter Workers$19,2203,030
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,9302,810
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$38,6402,810
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$40,5902,720
Community and Social Service Occupations$42,9402,530
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$45,3902,490
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$34,8802,430
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$49,7302,350
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$38,7602,310
Nursing Assistants$21,0602,280
Customer Service Representatives$31,9802,270
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$21,1902,220
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$52,8402,070
Stockers and Order Fillers$24,4902,040
Light Truck Drivers$29,4402,020
Receptionists and Information Clerks$25,3701,610
Construction Laborers$35,0701,540
Machinists$45,8501,520
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,0401,480
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$37,0801,460
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$64,9401,450
Legal Occupations$72,7301,450

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Lafayette, Louisiana Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$41,620198,590
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$33,80026,050
Sales and Related Occupations$34,40023,460
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,50017,740
Production Occupations$41,38015,260
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$60,93013,760
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$44,08011,560
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$40,67011,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$44,77011,350
Management Occupations$104,0108,750
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$61,5807,160
Retail Salespersons$26,6805,560
Office Clerks, General$26,4404,960
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,5304,370
General and Operations Managers$122,5603,880
Protective Service Occupations$36,9403,720
Registered Nurses$60,9403,510
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$30,3003,410
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,6203,320
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$73,2203,140
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,9302,810
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$38,6402,810
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$40,5902,720
Community and Social Service Occupations$42,9402,530
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$45,3902,490
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$34,8802,430
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$49,7302,350
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$38,7602,310
Customer Service Representatives$31,9802,270
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$52,8402,070
Light Truck Drivers$29,4402,020
Receptionists and Information Clerks$25,3701,610
Construction Laborers$35,0701,540
Machinists$45,8501,520
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,0401,480
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$37,0801,460
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$64,9401,450
Legal Occupations$72,7301,450
Production Workers, All Other$33,0301,350
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$31,1901,340
Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other$88,2601,320
Accountants and Auditors$68,4001,310
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$67,7801,220
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$39,3001,190
Electricians$47,4301,180
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$69,7201,180
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$69,4801,140
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$43,5801,110
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$62,6101,050
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$54,2201,010

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