Machinist salary in Louisiana
Median $29.38 an hour for 4,640 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Louisiana: the full range
Louisiana ranks 17th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 4th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $33.31). 4,640 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $19.20 – $23.57 | $39,930 – $49,030 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.57 – $36.14 | $49,030 – $75,170 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.14 – $40.83 | $75,170 – $84,930 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Louisiana
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $22.51 | $36.34 | $52.05 | 280 | 24% above |
| Baton Rouge | $22.08 | $32.55 | $41.92 | 870 | 11% above |
| New Orleans | $21.32 | $32.21 | $49.60 | 550 | 10% above |
| Monroe | $19.13 | $30.46 | $37.18 | 130 | 4% above |
| Slidell | $20.04 | $29.66 | $38.38 | 110 | 1% above |
| Shreveport | $18.36 | $29.06 | $38.75 | 340 | 1% below |
| Lafayette | $18.97 | $28.77 | $38.93 | 980 | 2% below |
| Houma | $18.34 | $26.71 | $36.58 | 570 | 9% below |
Machinist wages in Louisiana over time
Table
| Year | Louisiana $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.08 | $27.21 | $14.30 | 6,980 |
| 2000 | $14.78 | $27.63 | $14.78 | 6,580 |
| 2001 | $15.74 | $28.61 | $15.43 | 5,970 |
| 2002 | $16.24 | $29.06 | $15.66 | 6,000 |
| 2003 | $16.72 | $29.25 | $15.91 | 5,680 |
| 2004 | $16.81 | $28.65 | $16.33 | 5,020 |
| 2005 | $17.00 | $28.02 | $16.51 | 5,140 |
| 2006 | $17.26 | $27.56 | $16.71 | 5,560 |
| 2007 | $18.05 | $28.03 | $16.94 | 6,570 |
| 2008 | $18.42 | $27.54 | $17.41 | 6,980 |
| 2009 | $18.93 | $28.41 | $18.10 | 6,330 |
| 2010 | $19.55 | $28.86 | $18.52 | 5,510 |
| 2011 | $20.16 | $28.85 | $18.86 | 5,680 |
| 2012 | $20.81 | $29.18 | $18.99 | 6,420 |
| 2013 | $20.23 | $27.96 | $19.03 | 6,890 |
| 2014 | $20.99 | $28.54 | $19.22 | 6,760 |
| 2015 | $21.51 | $29.22 | $19.49 | 6,410 |
| 2016 | $22.94 | $30.77 | $20.05 | 5,030 |
| 2017 | $22.94 | $30.13 | $20.48 | 4,600 |
| 2018 | $22.97 | $29.45 | $20.97 | 4,810 |
| 2019 | $23.15 | $29.15 | $21.36 | 4,700 |
| 2020 | $24.05 | $29.92 | $22.04 | 4,710 |
| 2021 | $23.40 | $27.80 | $22.95 | 5,100 |
| 2022 | $26.44 | $29.09 | $23.32 | 4,690 |
| 2023 | $27.88 | $29.46 | $24.44 | 4,380 |
| 2024 | $28.23 | $28.97 | $27.00 | 4,980 |
| 2025 | $29.38 | $29.38 | $28.24 | 4,640 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Louisiana changed by +0.6% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Louisiana?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Louisiana
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Louisiana?
The median machinist in Louisiana earned $29.38 an hour ($61,110 a year) in May 2025, 4% above the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $23.57–$36.14; the top 10% earn more than $40.83.
Where does Louisiana rank for machinist pay?
Louisiana ranks 17th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $29.38 an hour, and 4th after adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.2, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Louisiana?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Louisiana counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Louisiana?
BLS counted 4,640 machinists in Louisiana in May 2025, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.30; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Louisiana and metro areas, SOC 51-4041.
- 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.