Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Louisiana
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Louisiana earn a median of $22,800 a year ($10.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 45,720 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,320 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $31,200. Louisiana ranks 50th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 24 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $24,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,610 | $8.95 |
| 25th percentile | $21,770 | $10.47 |
| Median | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| 75th percentile | $26,680 | $12.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,320 | $16.02 |
| Average (mean) | $24,580 | $11.82 |
Half of fast food and counter workers 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 | $1,900 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $950 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $876.92 |
| Weekly | $438.46 |
| Hourly | $10.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in cities in Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $25,470 | 10,110 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $23,650 | 8,490 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $23,380 | 2,970 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $22,500 | 2,350 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $22,460 | 4,150 |
| Hammond, LA | $22,350 | 1,560 |
| Lafayette, LA | $22,320 | 4,480 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $22,280 | 1,990 |
| Alexandria, LA | $21,760 | 1,490 |
| Monroe, LA | $21,550 | 2,060 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Bartender | $20,850 | $10.02 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,200 | $13.08 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,620 | $11.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $22,060 | $10.61 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $25,490 | $12.26 |
| 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 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $24,960 | $12.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $26,260 | $12.63 |
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 35-3023. 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 fast food and counter workers make in Louisiana?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Louisiana is $22,800 a year, or $10.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $33,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Louisiana earn at least $33,320 a year. The top 25% earn $26,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,610 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $21,770 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Louisiana?
About 45,720 fast food and counter workers are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.