SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Monroe
Monroe, LA · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay in Monroe, LA is $23,350 a year, 34.9% under the national median of $35,880 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Monroe, LA is $23,350 a year, 34.9% under the national median of $35,880 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $20,230 and $29,740. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $18,760 and the ninetieth at $36,450.
Baton Rouge leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $33,540. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 261st of 277 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,760 | −47.7% |
| 25th | $20,230 | −43.6% |
| Median (50th) | $23,350 | −34.9% |
| 75th | $29,740 | −17.1% |
| 90th | $36,450 | +1.6% |
| Mean | $25,870 | −27.9% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge | $33,540 | 360 | |
| 2 | Hammond | $31,800 | 70 | |
| 3 | Shreveport | $25,050 | 200 | |
| 4 | New Orleans | $24,720 | 500 | |
| 5 | Lafayette | $24,340 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Monroe run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $23,350 goes as far as $26,474 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 26.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$23,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,474US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $23,350 a year, 34.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $18,760 to $36,450 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Baton Rouge, at $33,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Monroe, LA?
The median annual wage is $23,350, or $11.23 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 $35,880, so pay in Monroe, LA is 34.9% 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 Monroe, LA earns more than $36,450 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $18,760 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 Baton Rouge, at $33,540 per year.
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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