Parish workers earn lowest average salary in region

From the half million dollar lake front homes to the shiny Mercedes and BMWs zipping through St. Tammany Parish, one thing is clear — pockets of the area’s population are among the wealthiest statewide.

But for others who earn a living solely in St. Tammany, the flashy lifestyle may be considered a slap in the face.

While many wealthy residents work outside the parish, carting in fat paychecks to the area and thus boosting per capita rates, those who earn a living in St. Tammany offer a bold juxtaposition.

With an average weekly salary of $723, St. Tammany Parish employers are the lowest paying businesses in a seven-parish region, according to data recently released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

“While (St. Tammany’s) per capita income is very high, the average weekly wage paid to employees is just not that great,” said Patty Granier, labor market analyst with the LWC.

Of the seven parishes examined during the fourth quarter of 2007, Jefferson Parish workers earned $845 per week; Orleans, $957; Plaquemines, $1,047; St. Bernard, $906; St. James, $977; and St. Charles, $1,045.

In other words, St. Tammany Parish workers earn 44.8 percent less than the highest paid workers in the region, a fact that offers stark contrast to the perception of the Northshore.

“I would have surely thought we made more,” said Jenny Pack, a recent college grad from Slidell looking for work. “We’re supposed to be this poster child for well-to-do areas.”

Still, some argue without hesitation, St. Tammany remains that poster child.

In 2006, the last year on record, St. Tammany’s per capita income ranked in the top seven parishes statewide, a fact skewed by an influx of storm related recovery money. St. Tammany would have likely been ranked higher, Granier said.

Nevertheless, St. Tammany’s average income was $34,760 in 2006, behind Jefferson Parish with $35,968, Lafayette with $36,925, Orleans with $59,449 and St. Bernard $61,201.

“You have to remember, too, there was less populations in those areas (in 2006), which ratchets up the average per capita income,” Granier said.

Still, in the majority of those parishes where average weekly pay remains high, there often exists industrial and manufacturing jobs that are nonexistent in St. Tammany.

“St. Tammany just doesn’t have the big corporations like Michaud and manufacturing plants like other parishes,” Granier said. “Our residents are working there and then bringing the money here.”

According to the data, St. Tammany boasts five job sectors paying more than $1,000, including $2,598 for miners, $1,435 for transportation and warehousing, $1,170 for wholesale traders, $1,166 for professional and technical services and $1,055 for finance and insurance.

Meanwhile, the seven parishes examined boasted four to 11 job sectors each paying above the $1,000 mark, according to the data.