Cooks, Restaurant salary in Louisiana
Cooks, Restaurant in Louisiana earn a median of $29,050 a year ($13.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,540 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $37,390. Louisiana ranks 51st of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 7.7 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $30,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,970 | $10.56 |
| 25th percentile | $25,860 | $12.43 |
| Median | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| 75th percentile | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,540 | $19.01 |
| Average (mean) | $30,630 | $14.73 |
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 | $2,420.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,210.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,117.31 |
| Weekly | $558.65 |
| Hourly | $13.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Louisiana
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,620 | $11.36 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $25,490 | $12.26 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Louisiana?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Louisiana is $29,050 a year, or $13.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Louisiana earn at least $39,540 a year. The top 25% earn $35,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,970 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $25,860 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Louisiana?
About 14,910 cooks, restaurant are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.