SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Lake Charles
Lake Charles, LA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lake Charles, LA is $23,380 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,320 — a gap of 33.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Lake Charles, LA is $23,380 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,320 — a gap of 33.8%. Pay ranges from under $17,740 at the tenth percentile to more than $35,800 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $22,090 to $29,310.
Employment stands at 1,940, or 19.1 jobs per thousand held locally. 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 267th of 277 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,740 | −49.8% |
| 25th | $22,090 | −37.5% |
| Median (50th) | $23,380 | −33.8% |
| 75th | $29,310 | −17.0% |
| 90th | $35,800 | +1.4% |
| Mean | $26,180 | −25.9% |
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 | Shreveport | $22,980 | 2,860 | |
| 5 | Lafayette | $22,920 | 3,260 | |
| 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 Lake Charles run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $23,380 goes as far as $26,508 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$23,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,508US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $23,380 a year, 33.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,740 to $35,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,940 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 Lake Charles, LA?
The median annual wage is $23,380, or $11.24 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 Lake Charles, LA is 33.8% 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 $35,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,740 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 1,940 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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