Carpenter Salary in Louisiana

$24/hr

This guide covers Louisiana carpenter wages, experience-based pay levels, credentials, higher-paying industries, and hiring considerations.

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What Carpenters Earn in Louisiana

Carpenters build and repair structures, install interior and exterior components, and perform detailed finish work. In Louisiana, carpenters typically earn about $16.40 to $33.32 per hour, which corresponds to approximately $34,100 to $69,310 annually.

Hourly rates by level in Louisiana

What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$21.03–$24.03/hr
▲ 0.5% from last year
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$24.03–$28.72/hr
▲ 0.5% from last year
Master · 8+ yrs
$28.72–$33.32/hr
▲ 0.5% from last year

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.

10th
$18
25th
$23
Median
$29
75th
$36
90th
$45
YOU · $28.00
Your percentile
46th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$58,240
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
−$2,080
Below the median

Calculate pay with extra credentials

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0

An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.

American RecruitsEstimate
Journeyman Carpenter
Louisiana · Day Shift
Base rate$26.38
+ OSHA 10-Hour Construction$0.25
+ First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)$0.25
+ NCCER Carpentry Level 1$0.75
Effective hourly$27.63
Straight · 40 hrs$1,105
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$332
Weekly gross$1,437
Annualised · 50 weeks
$71,825
8 OT hrs/week · Louisiana

Who pays the most in Louisiana

Higher-paying carpenter work can involve commercial construction, specialized projects, and demanding jobsite conditions.

01 / 04$30.66/hr

Nonresidential Building Construction

Commercial and institutional projects can provide experience with larger structures, complex framing, and demanding construction schedules.

+ Larger commercial projects
+ Complex structural work
– Tight project deadlines
– Strict site requirements
02 / 04$30.09/hr

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Infrastructure projects can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, bridges, highways, and other major engineering construction.

+ Large infrastructure projects
+ Structural formwork experience
– Outdoor working conditions
– Travel between projects
03 / 04$29.27/hr

Building Finishing Contractors

Finish contractors can provide opportunities for carpenters with detailed installation, trim, cabinetry, and interior finishing skills.

+ Specialized finish work
+ Precision installation
– Detailed craftsmanship
– Schedule depends on other trades
04 / 04$29.13/hr

Residential Building Construction

Residential construction includes new homes, additions, remodeling, framing, and other housing-related carpentry work.

+ Broad residential experience
+ Multiple carpentry specialties
– Weather-related delays
– Physically demanding work

Which states pay carpenters the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01Hawaii$41/hr
  2. 02Illinois$37.98/hr
  3. 03California$36.50/hr
  4. 04Massachusetts$36.16/hr
  5. 05Alaska$35.51/hr
  6. 06New York$34.77/hr
  7. 07Minnesota$31.22/hr
  8. 08Connecticut$30.80/hr
  9. 09New Jersey$30.77/hr
  10. 10Maryland$30.27/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
NCCER Carpentry Level 2+$1$2,080$1905 weeks
Scaffold User/Competent Person (OSHA-aligned)+$1$2,080$2105 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 1+$0.75$1,560$1906 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person (OSHA-aligned)+$0.75$1,560$1656 weeks
First Aid/CPR (OSHA-aligned)+$0.25$520$707 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.25$520$859 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.50$1,040$1709 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $24.00/hr.

40 hr week
$960
No OT
50 hr week
$1,320
+$18,000/yr
60 hr week
$1,680
+$36,000/yr
70 hr week
$2,040
+$54,000/yr

Questions workers ask

Does Louisiana require a carpenter to have a contractor license?▾
An employee carpenter does not automatically need an individual contractor license, but contractors performing qualifying work must meet Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors requirements.
Is there a specific carpentry classification in Louisiana?▾
Yes. Louisiana recognizes Carpentry as a specialty classification covering the construction, maintenance, and repair of rough and finish carpentry and millwork.
When does Louisiana require a residential contractor license?▾
A residential contractor license is generally required when qualifying residential construction exceeds the state's applicable project-value threshold, including labor and materials.

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CareerOneStop reports these hourly wage levels for Louisiana Carpenters, SOC 47-2031.

Last updated October 22, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.