How much do cement masons make in Louisiana in 2026?

The median cement mason in Louisiana earns $49,180 a year, which works out to roughly $23.64 an hour on a standard 2,080-hour year. That's the midpoint — half the cement masons in the state earn more, half earn less. Knowing where you fall in that range, and why, is worth understanding before you take your next job or negotiation.

The bottom quarter of earners — those just entering the trade or working lower-demand markets — come in at $40,650 annually, or about $19.54 an hour. Experienced masons in busier areas or on larger commercial and industrial projects push into the 75th percentile at $62,400 a year, which is $30.00 an hour flat. That $21,750 spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is significant. It's not luck — it tracks directly to years of experience, the types of work you can handle, and where in the state you're working.

Louisiana's construction activity is concentrated around Greater New Orleans, the Baton Rouge corridor, and the industrial belt running along the Mississippi River. Cement masons who position themselves near active commercial builds, infrastructure projects, or petrochemical plant work consistently land closer to the 75th percentile than those tied to smaller residential markets in rural parishes. The Lake Charles area has also seen substantial rebuild and industrial activity that keeps demand for finishing and flatwork crews elevated. If you're willing to drive or relocate regionally within the state, pay differences of several dollars an hour are realistic.

The work itself shapes your earning potential just as much as geography. Masons who can handle decorative concrete, stamped and stained flatwork, or trowel-finished industrial floors command more than those limited to basic slab pours. Slip-form paving, curb and gutter work tied to highway contracts, and elevated deck finishing on parking structures all carry more skill and pay accordingly. If you've spent your career on residential driveways and patios, the jump to commercial or DOT-funded work is the clearest path to the upper end of these numbers.

Overtime is a real income lever in Louisiana. The construction season doesn't shut down in winter the way it does in northern states — hot and humid summers slow some outdoor pours, but the calendar stays active most of the year. A mason picking up 10 hours of overtime a week for 30 weeks adds roughly $14,000 to $18,000 in gross pay at the median wage, depending on their base rate. That's money that doesn't show in the BLS annual figures, which are based on straight-time equivalent calculations.

No union scale data is available for cement masons in Louisiana. Most workers in this state are employed through non-union concrete contractors. That doesn't mean there's no upward pressure on wages — competitive labor markets and active project pipelines keep rates moving — but it does mean pay is set contractor by contractor rather than through a negotiated schedule. If a union local is active in your area, getting into an apprenticeship program through them is still one of the faster ways to build both skill credentials and higher base pay.

Speaking of apprenticeships: Louisiana does not require a state license to work as a cement mason, but completing a formal apprenticeship — typically three years of on-the-job training combined with related technical instruction — is one of the clearest ways to document skill progression to employers. Apprentices generally start below the median and work up toward or past it by the end of their term. The investment in time pays off: journeymen who can show formal training history tend to get first consideration on the higher-paying projects.

These figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. BLS captures base wages reported by employers; it does not include overtime, per diem, or benefits like health insurance and pension contributions. Your total compensation package is likely higher than these numbers reflect — but the hourly and annual figures here give you a solid, apples-to-apples baseline for comparing offers and knowing where you stand in the Louisiana market.