SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA · 9 metro areas compared
At $24,740, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, 33.9% beneath the national figure of $37,450.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $24,740, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, 33.9% beneath the national figure of $37,450. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $23,240 and $29,140. The lowest tenth earn under $22,260, while the highest tenth earn more than $35,310.
Employment stands at 1,240, or 3.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Lake Charles leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $32,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 479th of 491 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,260 | −40.6% |
| 25th | $23,240 | −37.9% |
| Median (50th) | $24,740 | −33.9% |
| 75th | $29,140 | −22.2% |
| 90th | $35,310 | −5.7% |
| Mean | $27,080 | −27.7% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles | $32,460 | 280 | |
| 2 | Slidell | $30,410 | 160 | |
| 3 | New Orleans | $29,370 | 1,050 | |
| 4 | Shreveport | $28,630 | 260 | |
| 5 | Lafayette | $26,400 | 470 | |
| 6 | Houma | $23,480 | 420 | |
| 7 | Monroe | $22,980 | 300 | |
| 8 | Alexandria | $21,690 | 280 | |
| 9 | Hammond | $20,680 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Baton Rouge run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $24,740 goes as far as $28,050 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 25.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$24,740as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$28,050US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $24,740 a year, 33.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,260 to $35,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,240 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lake Charles, at $32,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median annual wage is $24,740, or $11.90 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,450, so pay in Baton Rouge, LA is 33.9% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Baton Rouge, LA earns more than $35,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,260 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lake Charles, at $32,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,240 jobs in this occupation in Baton Rouge, LA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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