Trade pay in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA: 23 trades ranked by median wage, with the union scale and the jobs trend.
Every trade in Baton Rouge, ranked
| # | Trade | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Median $/yr | Jobs | vs state | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $36.38 | $57.10 | $86.13 | $118,770 | 2,170 | 8% above | 3% above |
| 2 | Construction supervisor | $27.89 | $37.92 | $50.79 | $78,870 | 4,680 | 5% above | 1% below |
| 3 | Welder | $23.79 | $37.58 | $44.36 | $78,170 | 3,690 | 26% above | 45% above |
| 4 | Lineman | $23.87 | $37.02 | $57.89 | $77,010 | 670 | 1% above | 19% below |
| 5 | Millwright | $23.22 | $36.83 | $44.31 | $76,610 | 290 | 16% above | 17% above |
| 6 | Boilermaker | $30.30 | $35.93 | $36.90 | $74,730 | 680 | 1% above | 2% below |
| 7 | Plumber | $24.00 | $35.69 | $38.97 | $74,240 | 2,790 | 17% above | 16% above |
| 8 | Ironworker | $21.53 | $35.32 | $37.82 | $73,470 | 390 | 7% above | 17% above |
| 9 | Machinist | $22.08 | $32.55 | $41.92 | $67,700 | 870 | 11% above | 15% above |
| 10 | Crane operator | $23.33 | $32.06 | $40.37 | $66,680 | 560 | 9% above | 2% below |
| 11 | Electrician | $23.44 | $31.41 | $39.33 | $65,330 | 3,320 | 6% above | 3% above |
| 12 | HVAC technician | $18.50 | $30.26 | $38.50 | $62,940 | 1,180 | 7% above | 3% above |
| 13 | Cement mason | $17.29 | $29.45 | $37.35 | $61,250 | 250 | 25% above | 7% above |
| 14 | Diesel mechanic | $20.16 | $28.99 | $38.60 | $60,300 | 640 | 3% above | 2% below |
| 15 | Heavy equipment operator | $19.71 | $27.99 | $36.88 | $58,210 | 2,260 | 13% above | 3% below |
| 16 | Carpenter | $18.34 | $26.75 | $34.44 | $55,630 | 3,490 | 11% above | 8% below |
| 17 | Sheet metal worker | $17.57 | $25.36 | $35.10 | $52,750 | 250 | 5% above | 15% below |
| 18 | Roofer | $17.44 | $23.70 | $40.02 | $49,300 | 220 | 1% above | 11% below |
| 19 | Painter | $17.14 | $23.62 | $28.52 | $49,130 | 1,110 | 6% above | 1% below |
| 20 | Drywall installer | $13.61 | $23.15 | $37.38 | $48,160 | 100 | 2% above | 18% below |
| 21 | Insulation worker | $21.63 | $23.12 | $29.97 | $48,090 | 1,100 | 2% above | 2% below |
| 22 | Glazier | $18.13 | $22.67 | $30.00 | $47,150 | 250 | about the same as | 17% below |
| 23 | Construction laborer | $14.89 | $18.58 | $28.45 | $38,650 | 6,300 | 1% above | 18% below |
Union scale in the Baton Rouge area
The highest Davis-Bacon Building-construction package among the counties in the Baton Rouge metro, next to the metro market median from BLS.
| Trade | Metro market median | DB base | Fringe | Total package | Rate source | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $31.41 | $29.47 | $13.50 | $42.97 | Union | 10 of 10 |
| Plumber | $35.69 | $32.42 | $16.50 | $48.92 | Union | 10 of 10 |
| Carpenter | $26.75 | $18.26 | $0.00 | $18.26 | Survey | 10 of 10 |
| Construction laborer | $18.58 | $13.10 | $0.00 | $13.10 | Survey | 10 of 10 |
| Heavy equipment operator | $27.99 | $18.50 | $3.40 | $21.90 | Survey | 10 of 10 |
| Ironworker | $35.32 | $34.75 | $13.86 | $48.61 | Union | 9 of 10 |
| Sheet metal worker | $25.36 | $30.38 | $14.20 | $44.58 | Union | 10 of 10 |
| Painter | $23.62 | $18.83 | $9.48 | $28.31 | Union | 9 of 10 |
Not the official determination. County-level lookup on the Louisiana prevailing wage page.
Construction jobs in Baton Rouge
59.1kConstruction jobs2026-08
+29.0%Change over 12 months
+33.7%Change over 5 years
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Baton Rouge?
In the Baton Rouge, LA metro area, construction managers had the highest median wage at $57.10 an hour in May 2025, with 2,170 jobs counted.
Do trades pay more in Baton Rouge than the rest of Louisiana?
In Baton Rouge, 22 of 23 trades pay above the Louisiana state median and 0 pay below it; the biggest premium is for construction managers at $57.10.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Baton Rouge, LA MSA.
- BLS CES metro employment.
- BEA metro Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations.