Food Preparation Worker salary in Louisiana
Food Preparation Workers in Louisiana earn a median of $23,620 a year ($11.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 30,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,190 for the top 10%. That is 33% lower than the national median of $35,320. Louisiana ranks 51st of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. 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 $25,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,970 | $8.64 |
| 25th percentile | $21,480 | $10.33 |
| Median | $23,620 | $11.36 |
| 75th percentile | $28,670 | $13.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| Average (mean) | $25,580 | $12.30 |
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 | $1,968.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $984.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $908.46 |
| Weekly | $454.23 |
| Hourly | $11.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in cities in Louisiana
| 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 |
| Alexandria, LA | $22,080 | 980 |
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 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,050 | $13.97 |
| 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 35-2021. 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 Louisiana?
The median salary for food preparation workers in Louisiana is $23,620 a year, or $11.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in Louisiana earn at least $34,190 a year. The top 25% earn $28,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,970 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $21,480 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Louisiana?
About 30,920 food preparation workers are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.