SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Louisiana
Louisiana · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay in Louisiana is $25,490 a year, 31.9% under the national median of $37,450 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Louisiana is $25,490 a year, 31.9% under the national median of $37,450 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $22,290 and $30,410. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $19,250 and the ninetieth at $36,200.
The area has 5,740 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.05 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Louisiana ranks 51st by median wage. 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 662nd of 679 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19,250 | −48.6% |
| 25th | $22,290 | −40.5% |
| Median (50th) | $25,490 | −31.9% |
| 75th | $30,410 | −18.8% |
| 90th | $36,200 | −3.3% |
| Mean | $27,300 | −27.1% |
Highest-paying 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 | Baton Rouge | $24,740 | 1,240 | |
| 7 | Houma | $23,480 | 420 | |
| 8 | Monroe | $22,980 | 300 | |
| 9 | Alexandria | $21,690 | 280 | |
| 10 | Hammond | $20,680 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $25,490 goes as far as $28,900 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 22.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$25,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$28,900US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $25,490 a year, 31.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $19,250 to $36,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,740 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 51st of 51 states for 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 Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $25,490, or $12.26 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 Louisiana is 31.9% 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 Louisiana earns more than $36,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $19,250 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 5,740 jobs in this occupation in Louisiana. 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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