Drywall Cost Calculator for Louisiana - Free 2026 Cost Estimates
Get accurate drywall cost estimates using Louisiana regional pricing data. Our free calculator adjusts for local labor rates and material costs specific to LA.
Louisiana Drywall Labor Costs — Verified from BLS OEWS (2025)
Every figure on this page is a published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics value. Last verified 2026-06-20.
In Louisiana, drywall & ceiling tile installers — the core trade for drywall work — earn a mean wage of $23.24/hr ($48,340 per year) in the 2025 BLS OEWS release. That is 24% below the national average (national mean $63,600 per year). Louisiana employs about 310 drywall & ceiling tile installers statewide. Related trades that price into a typical drywall job include construction laborers ($42,250/yr), first-line supervisors of construction trades ($76,740/yr). Because labor is the largest variable cost on most drywall projects, these published state wage levels are the biggest single reason drywall costs differ between Louisiana and other states. Every figure here is a mean value published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is refreshed automatically when BLS releases new OEWS data.
Across the trades that touch a typical drywall job in Louisiana, BLS reports mean wages of drywall & ceiling tile installers at $48,340 per year ($23.24/hr); construction laborers at $42,250 per year ($20.31/hr); first-line supervisors of construction trades at $76,740 per year ($36.89/hr). The spread between first-line supervisors of construction trades ($76,740) and construction laborers ($42,250) reflects differences in skill, certification, and supervisory responsibility on Louisiana job sites, and it is why a detailed, line-item estimate beats a single blended rate when you are budgeting drywall work.
Half of Louisiana drywall & ceiling tile installers earn less than the median of $47,420 per year — below the $48,340 mean, which a smaller number of higher earners pulls upward. For budgeting, the median is often the more realistic figure for routine drywall crews. BLS counts roughly 310 drywall & ceiling tile installers, 22,100 construction laborers, 14,070 first-line supervisors of construction trades employed across Louisiana, a measure of how deep the local drywall-trade labor pool is and how much competition for crews you can expect when scheduling work.
When you budget a drywall job in Louisiana, treat these BLS wage levels as the labor-rate floor: a crew's billed rate adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin on top of the $23.24/hr mean wage shown above. Because Louisiana's drywall & ceiling tile installers wages sit 24% below the national average, a drywall quote that comes in far below these published rates is worth a second look — labor that cheap usually signals a different scope, materials, or crew experience. Use the calculator on this page to combine these Louisiana labor rates with your project's material quantities for a complete estimate.
| Occupation (SOC) | Mean hourly | Mean annual | Median annual | Employed in LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers 47-2081 | $23.24/hr | $48,340 | $47,420 | 310 |
| Construction Laborers 47-2061 | $20.31/hr | $42,250 | $38,230 | 22,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades 47-1011 | $36.89/hr | $76,740 | $75,360 | 14,070 |
Wages are statewide means published by BLS and reflect labor cost only — not the total installed cost of a project. Use the calculator below for a full materials-and-labor estimate, and always obtain written bids from licensed Louisiana contractors.
Calculate Your Drywall Costs in Louisiana
Our free drywall calculator provides detailed estimates tailored to Louisiana pricing. Enter your project dimensions and specifications to get an instant breakdown of materials, labor, and total costs.
Sources & Methodology
These figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — the official federal wage survey — for the 2025 reference release, the latest available. Wages shown are statewide mean values for Louisiana; actual pay varies by metro area, employer, union status, and experience. CostFlowAI re-checks the BLS public API on a quarterly recheck cadence and stamps each figure with the date it was last verified (2026-06-20). We publish the exact BLS series ID behind every number so any figure on this page can be independently confirmed at the source.
- BLS OEWS Louisiana — all occupations, statewide — 2025 annual (A01) reference release. Last verified 2026-06-20.
- BLS OEWS national benchmark — Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers, all U.S. — 2025 annual (A01) reference release. Last verified 2026-06-20.
- The “24% below the national average” figure is derived arithmetic on the two cited BLS annual-mean wages ($48,340 LA ÷ $63,600 national − 1) — not a separate estimate.
BLS series IDs behind every figure on this page12
- Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers 47-2081
- Hourly mean wage
OEUS220000000000047208103 - Annual mean wage
OEUS220000000000047208104 - Annual median wage
OEUS220000000000047208113 - Employment
OEUS220000000000047208101
- Hourly mean wage
- Construction Laborers 47-2061
- Hourly mean wage
OEUS220000000000047206103 - Annual mean wage
OEUS220000000000047206104 - Annual median wage
OEUS220000000000047206113 - Employment
OEUS220000000000047206101
- Hourly mean wage
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades 47-1011
- Hourly mean wage
OEUS220000000000047101103 - Annual mean wage
OEUS220000000000047101104 - Annual median wage
OEUS220000000000047101113 - Employment
OEUS220000000000047101101
- Hourly mean wage
Each ID resolves to the live U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics public-API record for that exact figure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Drywall in Louisiana
What do drywall crews cost in Louisiana in 2026?
Drywall & ceiling tile installers — the core drywall trade — earn a mean wage of $23.24/hr ($48,340 per year) in Louisiana, per 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, 24% below the national average. Labor is the largest variable cost on most drywall jobs, so this is the single biggest driver of how Louisiana drywall pricing compares with other states. Use the free drywall calculator on this page for a full materials-and-labor estimate for your specific project.
Do I need a permit for drywall work in Louisiana?
Permit requirements for drywall work in Louisiana vary by municipality and project scope. Most cities and counties in Louisiana require building permits for structural work and projects exceeding certain cost thresholds. Contact your local Louisiana building department for specific requirements — always verify before starting work.
What factors affect drywall costs in Louisiana?
Key factors include local labor rates (drywall & ceiling tile installers average $23.24/hr in Louisiana per BLS OEWS), material availability and regional pricing, permit and inspection fees, site conditions specific to Louisiana, and project complexity. Wages are the largest variable cost on most drywall jobs, which is why Louisiana pricing tracks its published trade-wage levels. Getting multiple written quotes from licensed Louisiana contractors is recommended for the most accurate pricing.
What This Estimate Includes
- Materials: drywall sheets, joint compound, tape, screws, corner bead at regional pricing
- Labor: Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers in Louisiana earn a mean wage of $23.24/hr (BLS OEWS 2025)
- Waste factor: 10% standard waste allowance included
Not included: permits, demolition, site preparation beyond standard grading, inspections, or unforeseen site conditions.
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