Construction Laborer Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Construction Laborers in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $38,650 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,462 take-home, or $2,705 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,458
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,396
- Medicare (1.45%)$560
- Louisiana income tax$773
- Take-home pay$32,462
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,960 | $14.88 | $26,514 | $2,209 |
| 25th percentile | $34,510 | $16.59 | $29,260 | $2,438 |
| Median (50th) | $38,650 | $18.58 | $32,462 | $2,705 |
| 75th percentile | $47,260 | $22.72 | $39,122 | $3,260 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,170 | $28.45 | $48,334 | $4,028 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,650 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $32,462 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,759 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baton Rouge, LA has 2.2× the national concentration of construction laborer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #63 of 76 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,960 | $59,280 | $53,424 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $60,540 | $49,941 | $52,312 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $57,180 | $47,334 | $50,397 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $68,470 | $53,843 | $48,761 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $72,610 | $56,371 | $48,758 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,430 | $46,579 | $48,051 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $54,930 | $45,588 | $47,801 |
| 63 | Baton Rouge, LA | $38,650 | $32,462 | $35,759 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 76 metros →
About the job: construction laborers
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers. Construction laborers who primarily assist a particular craft worker are classified under "Helpers, Construction Trades" (47-3010).
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- New Orleans, LA — $39,480
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median construction laborer salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $38,650 a year, or about $18.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,510 and $47,260.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $38,650 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $32,462 a year ($2,705 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $773 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,759 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #63 of 76 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baton Rouge, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $78,870
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $74,240
- Electrician — $65,330
- Carpenter — $55,630