Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Louisiana

Median $18.38 an hour for 22,100 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$18.38/hrMedian hourly wageLouisiana, May data
$38,230/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$14.25 – $28.8910th to 90th percentilehourly range
22,100Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Construction laborer pay in Louisiana: the full range

Wage percentiles, LouisianaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrLouisiana: 10th $14.25 · 25th $16.59 · median $18.38 · 75th $22.74 · 90th $28.89Louisiana$18.38$14.25$28.89United States: 10th $16.87 · 25th $18.57 · median $22.66 · 75th $28.72 · 90th $37.54United States$22.66
Hourly wage percentiles for construction laborers: Louisiana vs United States, May 2025.

Louisiana ranks 48th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 44th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $20.84). 22,100 construction laborers 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$14.25 – $16.59$29,650 – $34,510roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$16.59 – $22.74$34,510 – $47,300the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$22.74 – $28.89$47,300 – $60,090the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Louisiana

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrLake Charles: $21.75Lake Charles$21.75New Orleans: $18.98New Orleans$18.98Baton Rouge: $18.58Baton Rouge$18.58Lafayette: $18.57Lafayette$18.57Shreveport: $18.50Shreveport$18.50Slidell: $18.41Slidell$18.41Alexandria: $17.76Alexandria$17.76Houma: $17.74Houma$17.74Hammond: $17.71Hammond$17.71Monroe: $17.24Monroe$17.24
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Louisiana, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Lake Charles$14.60$21.75$25.32$32.132,13018% above
New Orleans$14.78$18.98$20.50$29.293,6203% above
Baton Rouge$14.89$18.58$20.46$28.456,3001% above
Lafayette$14.02$18.57$21.30$29.111,7801% above
Shreveport$14.17$18.50$21.82$29.101,1701% above
Slidell$14.50$18.41$19.86$29.37860about the same as
Alexandria$13.73$17.76$20.72$22.936103% below
Houma$14.03$17.74$20.85$24.628803% below
Hammond$14.05$17.71$20.96$28.673004% below
Monroe$13.68$17.24$20.62$27.378606% below

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

Construction laborer wages in Louisiana over time

Louisiana, 1999-2025LouisianaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$18.38Louisiana
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Louisiana vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearLouisiana $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$8.74$16.89$10.8511,300
2000$9.29$17.37$11.1513,830
2001$9.57$17.40$11.5715,640
2002$9.92$17.75$11.9014,480
2003$9.93$17.37$11.8615,060
2004$9.96$16.97$12.1014,430
2005$10.07$16.60$12.2215,360
2006$10.56$16.86$12.6615,800
2007$11.29$17.53$13.1316,770
2008$11.80$17.64$13.7116,120
2009$11.85$17.78$14.0116,020
2010$11.78$17.39$14.0816,020
2011$11.76$16.83$14.3016,700
2012$12.44$17.44$14.4217,840
2013$12.98$17.94$14.6417,320
2014$13.63$18.54$14.9517,540
2015$13.71$18.62$15.3416,950
2016$14.11$18.93$16.0716,270
2017$15.25$20.03$16.6018,350
2018$16.07$20.60$17.2120,710
2019$16.35$20.59$17.7219,580
2020$16.60$20.65$18.2217,020
2021$16.73$19.88$18.1617,090
2022$17.78$19.56$19.5923,320
2023$18.90$19.97$21.7824,760
2024$19.35$19.86$22.4725,350
2025$18.38$18.38$22.6622,100

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Louisiana changed by -1.3% over the last ten years of data and by -10.7% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Louisiana?

+12.9%Jobs since 201919,580 then, 22,100 in 2025
+30.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
11.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.6× the US share, 7th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Louisiana has changed by +95.6%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +12.9%.

Construction laborers in Louisiana vs United States, 1999 = 100LouisianaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200250200020052010201520202025196Louisiana144United States
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
199911,300100100
200013,830122108
200115,640138108
200214,480128109
200315,060133110
200414,430128112
200515,360136122
200615,800140133
200716,770148138
200816,120143134
200916,020142112
201016,020142102
201116,700148102
201217,840158107
201317,320153108
201417,540155112
201516,950150116
201616,270144120
201718,350162126
201820,710183131
201919,580173134
202017,020151127
202117,090151127
202223,320206133
202324,760219134
202425,350224138
202522,100196144

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 construction laborers in Louisiana

+8.3%Projected growth in Louisiana2024–2034, state agency
3,210Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
35,610Jobs in 202438,580 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Louisiana's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +8.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 35,610 to 38,580, with about 3,210 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 22,100 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 construction laborers in Louisiana

On federally funded construction in Louisiana, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $12.31). 64 of the 64 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Acadia County at $12.31). The market median for the state is $18.38.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, LAAcadia: $12.31 (survey)Allen: $12.34 (survey)Ascension: $13.10 (survey)Assumption: $11.56 (survey)Avoyelles: $12.34 (survey)Beauregard: $12.34 (survey)Bienville: $10.74 (survey)Bossier: $11.54 (survey)Caddo: $11.41 (survey)Calcasieu: $10.45 (survey)Caldwell: $10.74 (survey)Cameron: $10.45 (survey)Catahoula: $10.74 (survey)Claiborne: $10.74 (survey)Concordia: $9.89 (survey)De Soto: $9.86 (survey)East Baton Rouge: $12.72 (survey)East Carroll: $10.74 (survey)East Feliciana: $13.10 (survey)Evangeline: $12.34 (survey)Franklin: $10.74 (survey)Grant: $10.77 (survey)Iberia: $12.31 (survey)Iberville: $13.10 (survey)Jackson: $10.74 (survey)Jefferson: $14.68 (survey)Jefferson Davis: $12.34 (survey)Lafayette: $11.26 (survey)Lafourche: $13.28 (survey)LaSalle: $10.74 (survey)Lincoln: $11.50 (survey)Livingston: $13.10 (survey)Madison: $10.74 (survey)Morehouse: $10.74 (survey)Natchitoches: $8.50 (survey)Orleans: $13.09 (survey)Ouachita: $12.37 (survey)Plaquemines: $13.28 (survey)Pointe Coupee: $13.10 (survey)Rapides: $10.77 (survey)Red River: $10.74 (survey)Richland: $10.74 (survey)Sabine: $10.74 (survey)St. Bernard: $19.00 (survey)St. Charles: $13.28 (survey)St. Helena: $13.10 (survey)St. James: $13.28 (survey)St. John the Baptist: $13.28 (survey)St. Landry: $14.11 (survey)St. Martin: $12.31 (survey)St. Mary: $15.00 (survey)St. Tammany: $13.41 (survey)Tangipahoa: $13.28 (survey)Tensas: $10.74 (survey)Terrebonne: $13.28 (survey)Union: $12.16 (survey)Vermilion: $12.31 (survey)Vernon: $11.17 (survey)Washington: $12.34 (survey)Webster: $11.18 (survey)West Baton Rouge: $13.10 (survey)West Carroll: $10.74 (survey)West Feliciana: $13.10 (survey)Winn: $10.74 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$10.74$11.29$12.34$13.10survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for construction laborers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (survey)$5$10$15$20$25/hrSt. Bernard (New Orleans): market median $18.98, prevailing (survey) $19.00, gap +$0.02St. Bernard (New Orleans)+$0.02Tangipahoa (Hammond): market median $17.71, prevailing (survey) $13.28, gap −$4.43Tangipahoa (Hammond)−$4.43Lafourche (Houma): market median $17.74, prevailing (survey) $13.28, gap −$4.46Lafourche (Houma)−$4.46Ouachita (Monroe): market median $17.24, prevailing (survey) $12.37, gap −$4.87Ouachita (Monroe)−$4.87St. Tammany (Slidell): market median $18.41, prevailing (survey) $13.41, gap −$5.00St. Tammany (Slidell)−$5.00Ascension (Baton Rouge): market median $18.58, prevailing (survey) $13.10, gap −$5.48Ascension (Baton Rouge)−$5.48Acadia (Lafayette): market median $18.57, prevailing (survey) $12.31, gap −$6.26Acadia (Lafayette)−$6.26Bossier (Shreveport): market median $18.50, prevailing (survey) $11.54, gap −$6.96Bossier (Shreveport)−$6.96Grant (Alexandria): market median $17.76, prevailing (survey) $10.77, gap −$6.99Grant (Alexandria)−$6.99Jefferson Davis (Lake Charles): market median $21.75, prevailing (survey) $12.34, gap −$9.41Jefferson Davis (Lake Charles)−$9.41
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Louisiana.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
St. BernardSurvey SULA2012-028 2014-09-22$14.00$5.00$19.00LA20260043
St. MarySurvey SULA2012-007 2014-09-22$15.00$0.00$15.00LA20260022
JeffersonSurvey SULA2012-023 2014-09-22$14.68$0.00$14.68LA20260038
St. LandrySurvey SULA2012-006 2014-09-22$13.42$0.69$14.11LA20260021
St. TammanySurvey SULA2012-029 2014-09-22$13.41$0.00$13.41LA20260044
LafourcheSurvey SULA2012-025 2014-09-22$13.28$0.00$13.28LA20260040
PlaqueminesSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$13.28$0.00$13.28LA20260052
St. CharlesSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$13.28$0.00$13.28LA20260052
St. JamesSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$13.28$0.00$13.28LA20260052
St. John the BaptistSurvey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22$13.28$0.00$13.28LA20260052
TangipahoaSurvey SULA2012-030 2014-09-22$13.28$0.00$13.28LA20260045
TerrebonneSurvey SULA2012-031 2014-09-22$13.28$0.00$13.28LA20260046
AscensionSurvey SULA2012-034 2014-09-22$13.10$0.00$13.10LA20260049
East FelicianaSurvey SULA2012-035 2014-09-22$13.10$0.00$13.10LA20260050
IbervilleSurvey SULA2012-022 2014-09-22$13.10$0.00$13.10LA20260037

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.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just construction laborers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 51 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 67,056 in 2015 to 63,797 in 2025, -4.9%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Orleans Parish3511,940$129,981$2,500
Plaquemines Parish541,000$122,438$2,355
Iberville Parish42527$82,977$1,596
West Baton Rouge Parish661,740$81,977$1,576
St. Bernard Parish81527$81,535$1,568
Richland Parish42251$81,506$1,567
East Baton Rouge Parish89310,058$80,106$1,540
St. John the Baptist Parish62792$77,555$1,491
St. Charles Parish1171,574$75,983$1,461
Grant Parish29171$75,937$1,460
St. Mary Parish74567$73,867$1,421
Ascension Parish2564,057$73,040$1,405

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Louisiana

More on Louisiana

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Louisiana?

The median construction laborer in Louisiana earned $18.38 an hour ($38,230 a year) in May 2025, 19% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $16.59–$22.74; the top 10% earn more than $28.89.

Where does Louisiana rank for construction laborer pay?

Louisiana ranks 48th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $18.38 an hour, and 44th after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.2, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Louisiana?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a construction laborer classification for most Louisiana counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many construction laborers work in Louisiana?

BLS counted 22,100 construction laborers in Louisiana in May 2025, 11.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.62; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Louisiana?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Louisiana went from 16,950 in 2015 to 22,100 in 2025, +30.4%, and +12.9% since 2019. Louisiana's labor market agency projects +8.3% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 35,610 to 38,580 jobs.

How many construction laborer openings a year are there in Louisiana?

Louisiana projects about 3,210 openings a year for construction laborers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 120,000 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Louisiana and metro areas, SOC 47-2061. 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.