Excavation costs and wages in Louisiana
What equipment operators and construction laborers earn in Louisiana, how many excavation contractors are listed here and in which counties, and the state's licensing rules. Job prices aren't published for any one state, so our price ranges are national.
Checked October 2, 2026
Wages in Louisiana
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Louisiana earn a median of $24.86 an hour, or $51,700 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $22.33 and $29.92 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 7,860 of these jobs in Louisiana. That's below the national median of $28.78 an hour (BLS).
Construction laborers in Louisiana earn a median of $18.38 an hour, or $38,230 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.74 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 22,100 of these jobs in Louisiana. That's below the national median of $22.66 an hour (BLS).
These are wages, not prices. A contractor's price also covers materials, equipment, insurance, overhead and profit, so a wage can't be turned into what a job costs you. BLS counts employees only, not the self-employed.
Contractors in Louisiana
Louisiana has 190 excavation contractors listed, and 42 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll match you with excavation contractors near you.
Permits and rules in Louisiana
Louisiana licenses contractors through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (Types of Licenses - Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors; Earthwork, Drainage, and Levees - Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors).
National price ranges
National price ranges for excavation, clearing, grading and driveway work, each credited to its source, are in our guides to excavation, land clearing, grading and driveway costs.
For a planning range on your own job, run the estimator.
Louisiana against the national range
Published labor data puts the Southeast's average rates lowest in the country (SiteX).
That's an average across a region, not a price for your job, and local quotes vary inside it.
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Cite this page
“Excavation costs and wages in Louisiana.” LeaderExcavation.com, updated October 2, 2026. https://leaderexcavation.com/la/costs/