Skilled Wages

Carpenter salary in Louisiana

Median $24.00 an hour for 8,990 carpenters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.00/hrMedian hourly wageLouisiana, May data
$49,920/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.40 – $33.3210th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,990Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Carpenter pay in Louisiana: the full range

Wage percentiles, LouisianaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrLouisiana: 10th $16.40 · 25th $21.03 · median $24.00 · 75th $28.72 · 90th $33.32Louisiana$24.00$16.40$33.32United States: 10th $19.43 · 25th $23.32 · median $29.12 · 75th $36.94 · 90th $48.03United States$29.12
Hourly wage percentiles for carpenters: Louisiana vs United States, May 2025.

Louisiana ranks 41st of 51 states for median carpenter pay, and 34th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.21). 8,990 carpenters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.40 – $21.03$34,100 – $43,730roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.03 – $28.72$43,730 – $59,740the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.72 – $33.32$59,740 – $69,310the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Carpenter pay by metro in Louisiana

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrBaton Rouge: $26.75Baton Rouge$26.75New Orleans: $24.10New Orleans$24.10Monroe: $23.27Monroe$23.27Slidell: $23.23Slidell$23.23Houma: $23.18Houma$23.18Lafayette: $22.81Lafayette$22.81Shreveport: $22.56Shreveport$22.56Alexandria: $22.48Alexandria$22.48Lake Charles: $22.08Lake Charles$22.08Hammond: $21.80Hammond$21.80
Median hourly wage for carpenters by metro area in Louisiana, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Baton Rouge$18.34$26.75$29.46$34.443,49011% above
New Orleans$17.91$24.10$26.03$35.121,390about the same as
Monroe$16.31$23.27$27.83$29.813603% below
Slidell$14.61$23.23$25.06$34.784503% below
Houma$18.02$23.18$27.24$31.114003% below
Lafayette$13.71$22.81$26.16$30.785805% below
Shreveport$15.53$22.56$26.60$31.084806% below
Alexandria$14.96$22.48$26.23$30.101806% below
Lake Charles$15.39$22.08$25.70$31.156308% below
Hammond$14.43$21.80$25.80$29.581309% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Carpenter wages in Louisiana over time

Louisiana, 1999-2025LouisianaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$29.12United States$24.00Louisiana
Median hourly wage for carpenters, Louisiana vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearLouisiana $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.40$25.89$15.3510,670
2000$13.15$24.59$15.6912,390
2001$13.29$24.16$16.0911,430
2002$13.75$24.61$16.4412,570
2003$13.86$24.25$16.4712,900
2004$14.37$24.49$16.7812,280
2005$14.49$23.89$17.1111,860
2006$14.94$23.86$17.5712,840
2007$15.61$24.24$18.1113,230
2008$16.67$24.93$18.7212,680
2009$16.94$25.42$18.9812,710
2010$17.05$25.17$19.0011,750
2011$17.39$24.89$19.2411,370
2012$17.40$24.40$19.2011,730
2013$17.54$24.24$19.4712,140
2014$17.52$23.83$19.6312,600
2015$17.65$23.97$20.2411,980
2016$17.81$23.89$20.9611,920
2017$19.48$25.59$21.7112,200
2018$21.35$27.37$22.4013,960
2019$21.92$27.60$23.2413,800
2020$22.26$27.69$23.8110,930
2021$22.37$26.58$23.208,060
2022$22.65$24.92$24.717,300
2023$22.71$24.00$27.097,970
2024$23.88$24.51$28.518,820
2025$24.00$24.00$29.128,990

In today's dollars, the median carpenter wage in Louisiana changed by +0.1% over the last ten years of data and by -13.1% since 2019.

Are there more carpenter jobs in Louisiana?

-34.9%Jobs since 201913,800 then, 8,990 in 2025
-25.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
4.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 28th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of carpenters counted in Louisiana has changed by -15.7%, against -13.1% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -34.9%.

Carpenters in Louisiana vs United States, 1999 = 100LouisianaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages608010012014020002005201020152020202587United States84Louisiana
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Louisiana vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearLouisiana jobsLouisiana indexUS index
199910,670100100
200012,390116111
200111,430107110
200212,570118111
200312,900121110
200412,280115114
200511,860111121
200612,840120128
200713,230124126
200812,680119117
200912,71011996
201011,75011080
201111,37010775
201211,73011074
201312,14011475
201412,60011880
201511,98011283
201611,92011288
201712,20011490
201813,96013193
201913,80012995
202010,93010291
20218,0607687
20227,3006890
20237,9707591
20248,8208390
20258,9908487

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for carpenters in Louisiana

+5.4%Projected growth in Louisiana2024–2034, state agency
960Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
12,300Jobs in 202412,960 projected for 2034
+3.9%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Louisiana's labor market agency projects the number of carpenters in the state to change by +5.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 12,300 to 12,960, with about 960 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.9% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,990 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Louisiana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for carpenters in Louisiana

On federally funded construction in Louisiana, contractors must pay carpenters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 4 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $43.65 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.22). 60 of the 64 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Allen County at $16.86). The market median for the state is $24.00.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, LAAcadia: $43.65 (union)Allen: $16.86 (survey)Ascension: $18.26 (survey)Assumption: $16.86 (survey)Avoyelles: $16.86 (survey)Beauregard: $16.86 (survey)Bienville: $18.22 (survey)Bossier: $19.20 (survey)Caddo: $19.54 (survey)Calcasieu: $15.13 (survey)Caldwell: $18.22 (survey)Cameron: $15.13 (survey)Catahoula: $18.22 (survey)Claiborne: $18.22 (survey)Concordia: $13.08 (survey)De Soto: $19.20 (survey)East Baton Rouge: $17.60 (survey)East Carroll: $18.22 (survey)East Feliciana: $18.26 (survey)Evangeline: $16.86 (survey)Franklin: $18.22 (survey)Grant: $16.77 (survey)Iberia: $43.65 (union)Iberville: $18.26 (survey)Jackson: $18.22 (survey)Jefferson: $21.63 (survey)Jefferson Davis: $16.86 (survey)Lafayette: $24.21 (survey)Lafourche: $21.99 (survey)LaSalle: $18.22 (survey)Lincoln: $22.73 (survey)Livingston: $18.26 (survey)Madison: $18.22 (survey)Morehouse: $18.22 (survey)Natchitoches: $18.22 (survey)Orleans: $21.83 (survey)Ouachita: $16.83 (survey)Plaquemines: $21.98 (survey)Pointe Coupee: $18.26 (survey)Rapides: $16.77 (survey)Red River: $18.22 (survey)Richland: $18.22 (survey)Sabine: $18.22 (survey)St. Bernard: $23.29 (survey)St. Charles: $21.98 (survey)St. Helena: $18.26 (survey)St. James: $21.98 (survey)St. John the Baptist: $21.98 (survey)St. Landry: $16.86 (survey)St. Martin: $43.65 (union)St. Mary: $16.86 (survey)St. Tammany: $21.49 (survey)Tangipahoa: $21.98 (survey)Tensas: $18.22 (survey)Terrebonne: $21.99 (survey)Union: $16.83 (survey)Vermilion: $43.65 (union)Vernon: $16.30 (survey)Washington: $16.86 (survey)Webster: $19.20 (survey)West Baton Rouge: $18.26 (survey)West Carroll: $18.22 (survey)West Feliciana: $18.26 (survey)Winn: $18.22 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.86$18.22$18.26$21.98survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for carpenters by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$10$20$30$40$50/hrAcadia (Lafayette): market median $22.81, prevailing (union) $43.65, gap +$20.84Acadia (Lafayette)+$20.84Tangipahoa (Hammond): market median $21.80, prevailing (survey) $21.98, gap +$0.18Tangipahoa (Hammond)+$0.18St. Bernard (New Orleans): market median $24.10, prevailing (survey) $23.29, gap −$0.81St. Bernard (New Orleans)−$0.81Lafourche (Houma): market median $23.18, prevailing (survey) $21.99, gap −$1.19Lafourche (Houma)−$1.19St. Tammany (Slidell): market median $23.23, prevailing (survey) $21.49, gap −$1.74St. Tammany (Slidell)−$1.74Caddo (Shreveport): market median $22.56, prevailing (survey) $19.54, gap −$3.02Caddo (Shreveport)−$3.02Morehouse (Monroe): market median $23.27, prevailing (survey) $18.22, gap −$5.05Morehouse (Monroe)−$5.05Jefferson Davis (Lake Charles): market median $22.08, prevailing (survey) $16.86, gap −$5.22Jefferson Davis (Lake Charles)−$5.22Grant (Alexandria): market median $22.48, prevailing (survey) $16.77, gap −$5.71Grant (Alexandria)−$5.71Ascension (Baton Rouge): market median $26.75, prevailing (survey) $18.26, gap −$8.49Ascension (Baton Rouge)−$8.49
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for carpenters, metro counties in Louisiana.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AcadiaUnion CARP1098-017 2024-07-01$32.59$11.06$43.65LA20260029
IberiaUnion CARP1098-017 2024-07-01$32.59$11.06$43.65LA20260036
St. MartinUnion CARP1098-017 2024-07-01$32.59$11.06$43.65LA20260053
VermilionUnion CARP1098-017 2024-07-01$32.59$11.06$43.65LA20260053
LafayetteSurvey SULA2012-024 2014-09-22$19.61$4.60$24.21LA20260039
St. BernardSurvey SULA2012-028 2014-09-22$19.01$4.28$23.29LA20260043
LincolnSurvey SULA2012-004 2014-09-22$20.62$2.11$22.73LA20260019
LafourcheSurvey SULA2012-025 2014-09-22$19.26$2.73$21.99LA20260040
TerrebonneSurvey SULA2012-031 2014-09-22$19.26$2.73$21.99LA20260046
PlaqueminesSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$19.25$2.73$21.98LA20260052
St. CharlesSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$19.25$2.73$21.98LA20260052
St. JamesSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$19.25$2.73$21.98LA20260052
St. John the BaptistSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$19.25$2.73$21.98LA20260052
TangipahoaSurvey SULA2012-030 2014-09-22$19.25$2.73$21.98LA20260045
OrleansSurvey SULA2012-026 2014-09-22$19.37$2.46$21.83LA20260041

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Louisiana prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Louisiana?

153.5kConstruction jobsLouisiana, 2026-09
+13.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202680k100k120k140k160k180k19901995200020052010201520202025154kSep 2026
Construction employment in Louisiana (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Carpenter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Louisiana

More on Louisiana

Questions this page answers

How much do carpenters make in Louisiana?

The median carpenter in Louisiana earned $24.00 an hour ($49,920 a year) in May 2025, 18% below the national median of $29.12. The middle half earn $21.03–$28.72; the top 10% earn more than $33.32.

Where does Louisiana rank for carpenter pay?

Louisiana ranks 41st of 51 states for carpenter pay, with a median of $24.00 an hour, and 34th after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.2, US = 100).

What is the union carpenter rate in Louisiana?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for carpenters in 4 counties, with a typical package of $43.65 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many carpenters work in Louisiana?

BLS counted 8,990 carpenters in Louisiana in May 2025, 4.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.08; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is carpenter work growing in Louisiana?

The BLS employer survey count of carpenters in Louisiana went from 11,980 in 2015 to 8,990 in 2025, -25.0%, and -34.9% since 2019. Louisiana's labor market agency projects +5.4% growth for carpenters between 2024 and 2034, from 12,300 to 12,960 jobs.

How many carpenter openings a year are there in Louisiana?

Louisiana projects about 960 openings a year for carpenters over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 62,800 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Louisiana and metro areas, SOC 47-2031. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Louisiana labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.