SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Lake Charles
Lake Charles, LA · 9 metro areas compared
In Lake Charles, LA the median wage is $28,550.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Lake Charles, LA the median wage is $28,550. That is 23.6% lower than the national median of $37,390. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $26,890 and $35,070. The lowest tenth earn under $22,660, while the highest tenth earn more than $37,330.
The area has 850 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.92 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. New Orleans leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $30,520. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 246th of 277 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,660 | −39.4% |
| 25th | $26,890 | −28.1% |
| Median (50th) | $28,550 | −23.6% |
| 75th | $35,070 | −6.2% |
| 90th | $37,330 | −0.2% |
| Mean | $30,280 | −19.0% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | $30,520 | 4,720 | |
| 2 | Baton Rouge | $29,910 | 2,420 | |
| 3 | Slidell | $29,050 | 1,100 | |
| 4 | Shreveport | $28,440 | 1,240 | |
| 5 | Houma | $27,690 | 530 | |
| 6 | Lafayette | $27,660 | 1,430 | |
| 7 | Alexandria | $27,220 | 360 | |
| 8 | Hammond | $27,130 | 460 | |
| 9 | Monroe | $27,090 | 570 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lake Charles run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $28,550 goes as far as $32,370 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,370US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,550 a year, 23.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,660 to $37,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 850 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New Orleans, at $30,520.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Lake Charles, LA?
The median annual wage is $28,550, or $13.73 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 $37,390, so pay in Lake Charles, LA is 23.6% 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 Lake Charles, LA earns more than $37,330 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,660 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 New Orleans, at $30,520 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 850 jobs in this occupation in Lake Charles, 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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