SOC 35-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation Workers — Shreveport
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Shreveport, LA is $22,980 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,320 — a gap of 34.9%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation Workers in Shreveport, LA is $22,980 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,320 — a gap of 34.9%. Pay ranges from under $17,160 at the tenth percentile to more than $35,480 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $21,430 to $28,930.
Employment stands at 2,860, or 17.6 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 332nd of 343 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,160 | −51.4% |
| 25th | $21,430 | −39.3% |
| Median (50th) | $22,980 | −34.9% |
| 75th | $28,930 | −18.1% |
| 90th | $35,480 | +0.5% |
| Mean | $25,750 | −27.1% |
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 | 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 Shreveport run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $22,980 goes as far as $26,054 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
$22,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,054US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,980 a year, 34.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $17,160 to $35,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,860 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 Shreveport, LA?
The median annual wage is $22,980, or $11.05 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 Shreveport, 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 Shreveport, LA earns more than $35,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $17,160 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 2,860 jobs in this occupation in Shreveport, 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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