Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area earn a median of $42,930 a year ($20.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,240 for the top 10%. That is 31% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 6% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $45,570. There are 0.97 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $50,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| 25th percentile | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Median | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| 75th percentile | $55,060 | $26.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,240 | $37.13 |
| Average (mean) | $50,030 | $24.05 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,577.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,788.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,651.15 |
| Weekly | $825.58 |
| Hourly | $20.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | $47,670 | 60 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $46,400 | 660 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $45,570 | 290 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $43,520 | 110 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $43,240 | 130 |
| Hammond, LA | $42,680 | 50 |
| Lafayette, LA | $42,060 | 180 |
| Monroe, LA | $39,990 | 80 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $38,560 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $24,380 | $11.72 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| Bartender | $19,990 | $9.61 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,910 | $10.53 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,990 | $11.06 |
| Dishwasher | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $24,220 | $11.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $30,410 | $14.62 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,580 | $13.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area is $42,930 a year, or $20.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area earn at least $77,240 a year. The top 25% earn $55,060 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,710 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $42,930 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
About 100 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.