SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Lafayette
Lafayette, LA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lafayette, LA is $22,920 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,320 — a gap of 35.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lafayette, LA is $22,920 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,320 — a gap of 35.1%. Pay ranges from under $17,380 at the tenth percentile to more than $30,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $21,140 to $28,420.
The area has 3,260 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 18.2 of every thousand jobs. New Orleans leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $26,200. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 339th of 350 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,380 | −50.8% |
| 25th | $21,140 | −40.1% |
| Median (50th) | $22,920 | −35.1% |
| 75th | $28,420 | −19.5% |
| 90th | $30,840 | −12.7% |
| Mean | $24,850 | −29.6% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | $26,200 | 7,250 | |
| 2 | Baton Rouge | $24,450 | 5,800 | |
| 3 | Slidell | $24,380 | 2,070 | |
| 4 | Lake Charles | $23,380 | 1,940 | |
| 5 | Shreveport | $22,980 | 2,860 | |
| 6 | Houma | $22,810 | 1,150 | |
| 7 | Hammond | $22,740 | 870 | |
| 8 | Monroe | $22,430 | 1,630 | |
| 9 | Alexandria | $22,080 | 980 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lafayette run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $22,920 goes as far as $25,986 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 26.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$22,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$25,986US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,920 a year, 35.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,380 to $30,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,260 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New Orleans, at $26,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lafayette, LA?
The median annual wage is $22,920, or $11.02 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 $35,320, so pay in Lafayette, LA is 35.1% 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 Lafayette, LA earns more than $30,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,380 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 $26,200 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,260 jobs in this occupation in Lafayette, 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.
Explore related data