Construction Laborer Salary in New Orleans, LA
Construction Laborers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $39,480 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,104 take-home, or $2,759 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,558
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,448
- Medicare (1.45%)$572
- Louisiana income tax$798
- Take-home pay$33,104
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,730 | $14.77 | $26,336 | $2,195 |
| 25th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 | $30,644 | $2,554 |
| Median (50th) | $39,480 | $18.98 | $33,104 | $2,759 |
| 75th percentile | $48,430 | $23.28 | $40,027 | $3,336 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,930 | $29.29 | $49,696 | $4,141 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,480 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median construction laborer's $33,104 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,751 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are about as common in New Orleans, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #241 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 241 | New Orleans, LA | $39,480 | $33,104 | $35,751 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Lake Charles, LA — $45,240
- Shreveport, LA — $38,480
- Lafayette, LA — $38,620
- Houma, LA — $36,890
- Alexandria, LA — $36,940
- Monroe, LA — $35,850
- Baton Rouge, LA — $38,650
- Slidell, LA — $38,300
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in New Orleans, LA?
The median construction laborer salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $39,480 a year, or about $18.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,300 and $48,430.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $39,480 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $33,104 a year ($2,759 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $798 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,751 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #241 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median construction laborer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,700
- Electrician — $62,490
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $62,450
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $58,240
- Carpenter — $50,130
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $45,980
- Helpers--Electrician — $39,360