Highest-paying trades in Louisiana
26 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.
Every trade in Louisiana, ranked by median pay
| # | Trade | Median $/hr | Median $/yr | 90th pct $/hr | Jobs | State rank | 10-yr real change | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $52.89 | $110,010 | $83.61 | 5,530 | 27th of 51 | +1.1% | 4% below |
| 2 | Lineman | $36.74 | $76,410 | $56.73 | 2,520 | 48th of 51 | +12.5% | 20% below |
| 3 | Construction supervisor | $36.23 | $75,360 | $50.19 | 14,070 | 41st of 51 | -5.0% | 6% below |
| 4 | Boilermaker | $35.57 | $73,980 | $37.16 | 1,220 | 27th of 37 | -0.4% | 3% below |
| 5 | Ironworker | $33.09 | $68,830 | $38.73 | 1,180 | 22nd of 50 | +10.1% | 10% above |
| 6 | Millwright | $31.77 | $66,080 | $39.64 | 1,080 | 22nd of 48 | -0.9% | 1% above |
| 7 | Plumber | $30.62 | $63,680 | $38.24 | 8,360 | 27th of 51 | +1.1% | about the same as |
| 8 | Welder | $29.93 | $62,250 | $39.30 | 13,690 | 8th of 51 | +5.9% | 16% above |
| 9 | Electrician | $29.59 | $61,540 | $39.33 | 10,550 | 35th of 51 | -3.5% | 3% below |
| 10 | Crane operator | $29.41 | $61,170 | $39.72 | 1,930 | 39th of 50 | -2.9% | 10% below |
| 11 | Machinist | $29.38 | $61,110 | $40.83 | 4,640 | 17th of 51 | +0.6% | 4% above |
| 12 | Diesel mechanic | $28.21 | $58,680 | $38.06 | 3,270 | 42nd of 51 | +1.0% | 5% below |
| 13 | HVAC technician | $28.20 | $58,650 | $37.60 | 5,380 | 36th of 51 | +8.2% | 4% below |
| 14 | Brickmason | $27.62 | $57,440 | $29.90 | 240 | 36th of 50 | +5.3% | 8% below |
| 15 | Heavy equipment operator | $24.86 | $51,700 | $36.14 | 7,860 | 40th of 51 | -0.1% | 14% below |
| 16 | Sheet metal worker | $24.19 | $50,320 | $37.40 | 1,080 | 41st of 50 | -6.0% | 19% below |
| 17 | Plasterer | $24.01 | $49,950 | $29.94 | 40 | 22nd of 28 | +21.2% | 13% below |
| 18 | Carpenter | $24.00 | $49,920 | $33.32 | 8,990 | 41st of 51 | +0.1% | 18% below |
| 19 | Cement mason | $23.64 | $49,180 | $35.67 | 910 | 41st of 51 | -6.0% | 14% below |
| 20 | Roofer | $23.44 | $48,760 | $40.67 | 760 | 31st of 51 | -0.6% | 12% below |
| 21 | Drywall installer | $22.80 | $47,420 | $37.38 | 310 | 39th of 49 | -8.2% | 20% below |
| 22 | Insulation worker | $22.76 | $47,340 | $29.97 | 1,610 | 33rd of 48 | — | 4% below |
| 23 | Glazier | $22.67 | $47,150 | $30.33 | 610 | 40th of 50 | +4.8% | 17% below |
| 24 | Painter | $22.31 | $46,410 | $28.52 | 4,090 | 37th of 51 | -2.1% | 6% below |
| 25 | Tile setter | $21.52 | $44,750 | $27.24 | 190 | 39th of 47 | -3.7% | 20% below |
| 26 | Construction laborer | $18.38 | $38,230 | $28.89 | 22,100 | 48th of 51 | -1.3% | 19% below |
Construction jobs in Louisiana
Prevailing wage in Louisiana
Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Louisiana, 53 of 64 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $43.91/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.
Metros in Louisiana
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Louisiana?
Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $52.89 an hour in May 2025, followed by electrical power-line installers and repairers ($36.74) and first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers ($36.23).
How does Louisiana compare with the rest of the country?
Across the 26 trades listed, 4 pay above the national median in Louisiana and 22 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 88.2% of the US average (BEA).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Louisiana.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
- BEA Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).