Drywall installer salary in Louisiana
Median $22.80 an hour for 310 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in Louisiana: the full range
Louisiana ranks 39th of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 29th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.85). 310 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $13.61 – $16.01 | $28,310 – $33,290 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $16.01 – $29.20 | $33,290 – $60,730 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.20 – $37.38 | $60,730 – $77,740 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in Louisiana
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $13.86 | $23.67 | $39.15 | 50 | 4% above |
| Baton Rouge | $13.61 | $23.15 | $37.38 | 100 | 2% above |
Drywall installer wages in Louisiana over time
Table
| Year | Louisiana $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.72 | $26.51 | $15.34 | 1,950 |
| 2000 | $12.52 | $23.41 | $15.80 | 1,640 |
| 2001 | $13.24 | $24.07 | $15.87 | 1,470 |
| 2002 | $12.89 | $23.07 | $16.21 | 1,300 |
| 2003 | $12.21 | $21.36 | $16.19 | 1,270 |
| 2004 | $13.87 | $23.64 | $16.36 | 1,260 |
| 2005 | $14.77 | $24.35 | $16.70 | 1,330 |
| 2006 | $15.74 | $25.14 | $17.38 | 1,260 |
| 2007 | $16.26 | $25.25 | $17.56 | 1,150 |
| 2008 | $16.13 | $24.12 | $18.12 | 1,430 |
| 2009 | $15.54 | $23.32 | $17.88 | 1,320 |
| 2010 | $16.08 | $23.74 | $17.94 | 1,220 |
| 2011 | $16.67 | $23.86 | $17.78 | 950 |
| 2012 | $16.24 | $22.77 | $17.89 | 610 |
| 2013 | $16.40 | $22.66 | $17.89 | 1,170 |
| 2014 | $18.04 | $24.53 | $18.32 | — |
| 2015 | $18.29 | $24.84 | $18.85 | — |
| 2016 | $18.26 | $24.49 | $19.75 | — |
| 2017 | $16.90 | $22.20 | $20.60 | 480 |
| 2018 | $16.74 | $21.46 | $21.03 | 350 |
| 2019 | $17.67 | $22.25 | $21.97 | 310 |
| 2020 | $17.36 | $21.59 | $22.82 | 630 |
| 2021 | $18.19 | $21.61 | $23.09 | 880 |
| 2022 | $17.34 | $19.08 | $24.25 | 540 |
| 2023 | $17.29 | $18.27 | $26.78 | 500 |
| 2024 | $17.68 | $18.15 | $27.95 | 410 |
| 2025 | $22.80 | $22.80 | $28.33 | 310 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Louisiana changed by -8.2% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Louisiana
On federally funded construction in Louisiana, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 13 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $22.68). 13 of the 13 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Bossier County at $15.60). The market median for the state is $22.80.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | Survey SULA2012-023 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260038 |
| Plaquemines | Survey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260052 |
| St. Bernard | Survey SULA2012-028 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260043 |
| St. Charles | Survey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260052 |
| St. James | Survey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260052 |
| St. John the Baptist | Survey SULA2012-037 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260052 |
| St. Tammany | Survey SULA2012-029 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260044 |
| Tangipahoa | Survey SULA2012-030 2014-09-22 | $18.35 | $4.33 | $22.68 | LA20260045 |
| Orleans | Survey SULA2012-026 2014-09-22 | $16.55 | $0.00 | $16.55 | LA20260041 |
| Bossier | Survey SULA2012-015 2014-09-22 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | LA20260030 |
| Caddo | Survey SULA2012-016 2014-09-22 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | LA20260031 |
| De Soto | Survey SULA2012-019 2014-09-22 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | LA20260034 |
| Webster | Survey SULA2012-033 2014-09-22 | $15.60 | $0.00 | $15.60 | LA20260048 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. 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?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Louisiana
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in Louisiana?
The median drywall installer in Louisiana earned $22.80 an hour ($47,420 a year) in May 2025, 20% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $16.01–$29.20; the top 10% earn more than $37.38.
Where does Louisiana rank for drywall installer pay?
Louisiana ranks 39th of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $22.80 an hour, and 29th after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.2, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in Louisiana?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a drywall installer classification for most Louisiana counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many drywall installers work in Louisiana?
BLS counted 310 drywall and ceiling tile installers in Louisiana in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.30; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Louisiana and metro areas, SOC 47-2081.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.