Food Preparation Worker salary in Alexandria, LA
Food Preparation Workers in the Alexandria, LA metro area earn a median of $22,080 a year ($10.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 980 workers.
Pay ranges from $16,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29,590 for the top 10%. That is 37% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 7% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $23,620. There are 16 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $22,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Alexandria, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,620 | $7.99 |
| 25th percentile | $19,640 | $9.44 |
| Median | $22,080 | $10.62 |
| 75th percentile | $25,440 | $12.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Average (mean) | $22,980 | $11.05 |
Half of food preparation 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 | $1,840 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $920 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $849.23 |
| Weekly | $424.62 |
| Hourly | $10.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $26,200 | 7,250 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $24,450 | 5,800 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $24,380 | 2,070 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $23,380 | 1,940 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $22,980 | 2,860 |
| Lafayette, LA | $22,920 | 3,260 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $22,810 | 1,150 |
| Hammond, LA | $22,740 | 870 |
| Monroe, LA | $22,430 | 1,630 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Alexandria, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $27,220 | $13.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $21,690 | $10.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $24,170 | $11.62 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $21,760 | $10.46 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $30,640 | $14.73 |
| Bartender | $17,840 | $8.58 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,120 | $10.15 |
| Dishwasher | $23,010 | $11.06 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $22,410 | $10.77 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Alexandria, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Alexandria, LA?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Alexandria, LA metro area is $22,080 a year, or $10.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $16,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Alexandria, LA?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Alexandria, LA metro area earn at least $29,590 a year. The top 25% earn $25,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Alexandria, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16,620 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $19,640 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Alexandria, LA?
About 980 food preparation workers are employed in the Alexandria, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.