English Degree in Metairie, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Metairie, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$38K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.8 yrs
in Metairie
Cost of Living
89.4
index (100 = avg)
English in Metairie, LA Overview
Metairie, Louisiana (pop. 138,481) has 6 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 89.4 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $645/month. Although national enrollment in English has been declining, graduates with skills in Writing and Critical Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Metairie is approximately $37,548.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,800/yr
Private Tuition
$28,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,366/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,835/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
English Salary in Metairie (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Metairie's cost of living index of 89.4 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Metairie adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Metairie
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Metairie tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,800 | Private avg: $28,000
Metairie avg aid: $14,835/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,664
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,258
vs HS diploma in Metairie
ROI Payback Period
14.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Metairie
$104,016
Lifetime earnings premium ($196,680) minus total education cost ($92,664)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Metairie
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Metairie for English
Metairie State University
public
$8,983/yr
$35,932 total
University of Metairie
public
$10,583/yr
$42,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metairie Community College
$4,982/yr
Top Employers for English in Metairie
Metairie offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Metairie Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$38K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$34K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$42K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$44K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$34K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$37K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$39K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Metairie
Chinese Studies
$49K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$39K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$45K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$38K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$45K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Metairie — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare English ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Metairie.