Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lafayette, LA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median of $27,660 a year ($13.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,520 for the top 10%. That is 26% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $29,050. There are 8.0 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $28,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lafayette, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,570 | $10.37 |
| 25th percentile | $23,440 | $11.27 |
| Median | $27,660 | $13.30 |
| 75th percentile | $33,990 | $16.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Average (mean) | $28,720 | $13.81 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,305 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,152.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,063.85 |
| Weekly | $531.92 |
| Hourly | $13.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $30,520 | 4,720 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $29,910 | 2,420 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $29,050 | 1,100 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $28,550 | 850 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $28,440 | 1,240 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $27,690 | 530 |
| Alexandria, LA | $27,220 | 360 |
| Hammond, LA | $27,130 | 460 |
| Monroe, LA | $27,090 | 570 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $22,920 | $11.02 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $26,400 | $12.69 |
| Cooks, All Other | $26,140 | $12.57 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $24,340 | $11.70 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,320 | $10.73 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| Bartender | $19,070 | $9.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,650 | $10.41 |
| Dishwasher | $25,300 | $12.16 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $19,420 | $9.34 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,860 | $13.39 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $42,060 | $20.22 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Lafayette, LA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $27,660 a year, or $13.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Lafayette, LA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn at least $36,520 a year. The top 25% earn $33,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Lafayette, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,570 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $23,440 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Lafayette, LA?
About 1,430 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Lafayette, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.