Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area earn a median of $30,410 a year ($14.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,900 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 19% higher than the Louisiana statewide median of $25,490. There are 1.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $31,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,410 | $11.74 |
| 25th percentile | $28,010 | $13.46 |
| Median | $30,410 | $14.62 |
| 75th percentile | $34,480 | $16.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Average (mean) | $31,600 | $15.19 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,534.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,267.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,169.62 |
| Weekly | $584.81 |
| Hourly | $14.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $32,460 | 280 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $29,370 | 1,050 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $28,630 | 260 |
| Lafayette, LA | $26,400 | 470 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $24,740 | 1,240 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $23,480 | 420 |
| Monroe, LA | $22,980 | 300 |
| Alexandria, LA | $21,690 | 280 |
| Hammond, LA | $20,680 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $24,380 | $11.72 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area is $30,410 a year, or $14.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area earn at least $36,900 a year. The top 25% earn $34,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,410 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $28,010 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?
About 160 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.