Baton Rouge Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Baton Rouge, LA: $23.42/hr median hourly wage, $48,710 median annual salary, cost of living index 90, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Louisiana taxes.
Baton Rouge Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Baton Rouge, LA is $23.42/hr,and the median annual wage is $48,710. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.52/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.26/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baton Rouge, LA metropolitan statistical area (409,690 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Baton Rouge shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$48,710
$23.42/hr
Cost of Living
90
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.8%
rate
Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Population
227,470
Median Salary
$48,710
Average Salary
$61,230
Avg Commute
24 min
Median Home Price
$210,000
Median Rent
$1,000/mo
Job Growth
+1.2%
Sales Tax
9.95%
Baton Rouge is located in Louisiana with a population of 227,470. The median annual wage across all occupations is $48,710 ($23.42/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Baton Rouge, LA metro), which is $2,270 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 24 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.2%.
Baton Rouge Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Baton Rouge, LA built around the $48,710 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baton Rouge, LA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,200 | $14.52/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $48,710 | $23.42/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $69,168 | $33.26/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $86,704 | $41.69/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Baton Rouge Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$40,243
$3,353.62/month · $1,547.82/biweekly · Effective Rate: 17.4%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,547.82 take-home per paycheck after estimated Louisiana and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$48,710
Federal Tax
-$3,665
State Tax
-$1,075
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,726
Net Pay
$40,243
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,059.17 | $48,710.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$305.43 | -$3,665.20 |
| Louisiana State Tax (2.21% eff.) | -$89.59 | -$1,075.05 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$251.67 | -$3,020.02 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$58.86 | -$706.30 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,353.62 | $40,243.44 |
Salary Comparison: Baton Rouge vs Other Cities
See how Baton Rouge's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $48,710 | 90 | $54,122 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $48,710 | 108 | $45,102 |
| Salisbury, MD | $48,710 | 111.3 | $43,765 |
| Prairieville, LA | $48,710 | 92 | $52,946 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $48,690 | 94.5 | $51,524 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100). Living in Baton Rouge is 10% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$210,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Annual Rent Cost
$12,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $40,243 annual take-home pay in Baton Rouge has the purchasing power of approximately $44,715 in an average-cost US area. Your $48,710 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $48,710.
Salary Tips for Baton Rouge Workers
- Research top industries. Baton Rouge's top industries include Government, Energy, Education. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $48,710 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Louisiana
Bossier City
Central
Houma
Kenner
Lafayette
Lake Charles
Laplace
Marrero
Metairie
Monroe
New Iberia
New Orleans
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Baton Rouge salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Baton Rouge, LA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Baton Rouge indexed at 90.
- Median salary: $48,710 annual, $23.42 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baton Rouge, LA MSA (409,690 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $61,230 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Baton Rouge was $53,000.
- Tax burden reflects Louisiana 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 3%) (no local income tax), sales tax (9.95%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Baton Rouge: 3.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Government, Energy, Education, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Louisiana.
- Housing context: median home price $210,000, median rent $1,000/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Baton Rouge, LA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Baton Rouge unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Baton Rouge QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Louisiana, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Baton Rouge's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Louisiana labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median hourly wage in Baton Rouge, LA is $23.42 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Baton Rouge, LA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $48,710. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.52/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.26/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median salary in Baton Rouge, LA is $48,710 per year, or $23.42 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baton Rouge, LA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $61,230. This is $2,270 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Baton Rouge, LA?
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100), meaning it is 10% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $210,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,000.
What are the best industries in Baton Rouge?
The top industries in Baton Rouge, LA include Government, Energy, Education. The city has a job growth rate of 1.2% and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $48,710.
How does Baton Rouge's salary compare to other cities?
Baton Rouge's median salary of $48,710 is 4.5% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 90), the real purchasing power is approximately $54,122.
What is the minimum wage in Baton Rouge, LA?
The minimum wage in Baton Rouge, LA is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.