Cooks, Fast Food salary in Louisiana
Cooks, Fast Food in Louisiana earn a median of $24,960 a year ($12.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29,640 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $30,890. Louisiana ranks 48th of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 1.5 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.38). The average (mean) salary is $25,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,890 | $10.04 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 | $10.58 |
| Median | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| 75th percentile | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Average (mean) | $25,130 | $12.08 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,080 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,040 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $960 |
| Weekly | $480 |
| Hourly | $12.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | $24,170 | 120 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $23,930 | 310 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,620 | $11.36 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $25,490 | $12.26 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $26,260 | $12.63 |
| Cooks, All Other | $28,930 | $13.91 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Bartender | $20,850 | $10.02 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $22,060 | $10.61 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,780 | $12.88 |
| Dishwasher | $26,440 | $12.71 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $21,820 | $10.49 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,200 | $13.08 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Louisiana
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Louisiana?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Louisiana is $24,960 a year, or $12.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Louisiana earn at least $29,640 a year. The top 25% earn $28,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,890 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $22,000 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Louisiana?
About 3,000 cooks, fast food are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.