Cooks, Restaurant salary in Lake Charles, LA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median of $28,550 a year ($13.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,330 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 2% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $29,050. There are 8.3 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Lake Charles, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,660 | $10.89 |
| 25th percentile | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Median | $28,550 | $13.73 |
| 75th percentile | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Average (mean) | $30,280 | $14.56 |
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 | $2,379.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,189.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,098.08 |
| Weekly | $549.04 |
| Hourly | $13.73 |
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 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $28,440 | 1,240 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $27,690 | 530 |
| Lafayette, LA | $27,660 | 1,430 |
| 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 Lake Charles, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $32,460 | $15.61 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,500 | $10.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Bartender | $18,280 | $8.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $20,930 | $10.06 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $20,770 | $9.98 |
| Dishwasher | $24,760 | $11.91 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,470 | $9.84 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $43,520 | $20.93 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $25,590 | $12.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lake Charles, 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 Lake Charles, LA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $28,550 a year, or $13.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Lake Charles, LA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn at least $37,330 a year. The top 25% earn $35,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Lake Charles, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,660 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $26,890 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Lake Charles, LA?
About 850 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Lake Charles, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.