WAGE DATA · SOC 53-7021

CRANE OPERATOR PAY
IN LOUISIANA.

Louisiana crane operators earn a median of $29.39/hr (BLS 2024). 1,750 workers employed statewide. Compare market wages, federal prevailing rates, and per-diem baselines below.

// BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS · STATEWIDEOEWS · MAY 2024
HOURLY MEDIAN
$29.39/hr
MEAN HOURLY
$30.13/hr
ANNUAL MEDIAN
$61K
EMPLOYED
1,750
10th · $21.57MEDIAN · $29.3990th · $39.66
// DAVIS-BACON · FEDERAL PREVAILING WAGEDATA SOON

Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates for crane operators in Louisiana will be imported from SAM.gov in our next data refresh. These are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — crucial for comparing offers against the federal floor.

// GSA PER DIEM · FY 2026GSA

Lodging + M&IE by City

The federal government's per-diem rate is the baseline most contractors use. If your job's per diem is below this, you're subsidizing the contractor.

New Orleans
Orleans / Jefferson Parishes
$238
/day · meals $80
Alexandria / Leesville / Natchitoches
Allen / Jefferson Davis / Natchitoches / Rapides / Vernon Parishes
$180
/day · meals $68
Standard Rate
Louisiana
$178
/day · meals $68
// ROADHAND COMMUNITY DATABE FIRST

What are workers actually earning?

Government data is a baseline. Real take-home pay — including per diem, OT rules, housing allowances — comes from workers on the ground. Submit your pay anonymously to help the next hand.

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OTHER TRADES IN LOUISIANA

ElectricianWelderPipefitterIronworkerMillwrightBoilermakerCarpenterOperating EngineerPlumber

CRANE OPERATOR PAY IN OTHER STATES

AlaskaCaliforniaColoradoMontanaNew MexicoNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaTexasWest VirginiaWyoming

FAQ

How much does a crane operator earn in Louisiana?+
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2024), crane operators in Louisiana earn a median of $29.39/hr. That's roughly $61K/year for a full-time schedule at straight time.
What's the top pay for crane operators in Louisiana?+
The top 10% of crane operators in Louisiana earn more than $39.66/hr (BLS 2024). That represents experienced workers, supervisors, or those on high-per-diem travel contracts.
How many crane operators work in Louisiana?+
BLS reports 1,750 crane operators employed in Louisiana as of 2024. Numbers fluctuate with major construction cycles — when big projects like LNG terminals or data centers start, demand spikes.
Do crane operators in Louisiana get per diem?+
Per diem is standard on travel contracts. The federal GSA baseline for Louisiana is typically $150-$260/day depending on the city. Contractors may set their per diem higher or lower — if it's below the GSA floor, you're subsidizing the contractor's housing budget out of pocket.
What's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage?+
Davis-Bacon rates are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — base pay plus fringe benefits. Every contractor working a federal job must pay at least the Davis-Bacon rate for that county and trade. Private-sector jobs don't have to match, but many do as a competitive floor.