SOC 35-3041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — Louisiana
Louisiana · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Louisiana is $27,200 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 23.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Louisiana is $27,200 a year, trailing the national median of $35,360 by 23.1%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $21,490 and $30,150. The lowest tenth earn under $18,580, while the highest tenth earn more than $32,540.
The area has 2,380 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.65 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Louisiana ranks number 51st out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, New Orleans records the highest median at $29,460. Of the 679 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 650th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,580 | −47.5% |
| 25th | $21,490 | −39.2% |
| Median (50th) | $27,200 | −23.1% |
| 75th | $30,150 | −14.7% |
| 90th | $32,540 | −8.0% |
| Mean | $26,000 | −26.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | $29,460 | 770 | |
| 2 | Lafayette | $27,860 | 270 | |
| 3 | Slidell | $27,580 | 90 | |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | $27,330 | 390 | |
| 5 | Hammond | $26,450 | 40 | |
| 6 | Monroe | $25,690 | 100 | |
| 7 | Lake Charles | $25,590 | 60 | |
| 8 | Houma | $25,070 | 90 | |
| 9 | Shreveport | $23,920 | 260 | |
| 10 | Alexandria | $22,410 | 60 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $27,200 goes as far as $30,839 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,200as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,839US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,200 a year, 23.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $18,580 to $32,540 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,380 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 51st of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New Orleans, at $29,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $27,200, or $13.08 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 $35,360, so pay in Louisiana is 23.1% 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 $32,540 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $18,580 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 $29,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,380 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.
Explore related data