SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — Louisiana
Louisiana · 9 metro areas compared
At $21,820, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other, 39.1% beneath the national figure of $35,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $21,820, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other, 39.1% beneath the national figure of $35,840. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $19,020 and $30,860. The lowest tenth earn under $17,400, while the highest tenth earn more than $36,530.
The area has 3,670 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 3.49 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 44 states with published data for this occupation, Louisiana ranks 43rd by median wage. Slidell leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $24,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 676th of 679 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,400 | −51.5% |
| 25th | $19,020 | −46.9% |
| Median (50th) | $21,820 | −39.1% |
| 75th | $30,860 | −13.9% |
| 90th | $36,530 | +1.9% |
| Mean | $25,560 | −28.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slidell | $24,220 | 200 | |
| 2 | Hammond | $24,150 | 280 | |
| 3 | New Orleans | $23,420 | 1,200 | |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | $21,640 | 540 | |
| 5 | Houma | $21,370 | 110 | |
| 6 | Lake Charles | $20,470 | 160 | |
| 7 | Shreveport | $20,330 | 270 | |
| 8 | Monroe | $19,500 | 130 | |
| 9 | Lafayette | $19,420 | 380 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $21,820 goes as far as $24,739 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 31.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$21,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$24,739US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $21,820 a year, 39.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,400 to $36,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,670 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Slidell, at $24,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $21,820, or $10.49 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 $35,840, so pay in Louisiana is 39.1% 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 $36,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,400 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 Slidell, at $24,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,670 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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