Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Louisiana
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Louisiana earn a median of $27,200 a year ($13.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,540 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $35,360. Louisiana ranks 51st of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 1.2 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $26,000, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,580 | $8.93 |
| 25th percentile | $21,490 | $10.33 |
| Median | $27,200 | $13.08 |
| 75th percentile | $30,150 | $14.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $32,540 | $15.64 |
| Average (mean) | $26,000 | $12.50 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,266.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,133.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,046.15 |
| Weekly | $523.08 |
| Hourly | $13.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $27,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Louisiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $29,460 | 770 |
| Lafayette, LA | $27,860 | 270 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $27,580 | 90 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $27,330 | 390 |
| Hammond, LA | $26,450 | 40 |
| Monroe, LA | $25,690 | 100 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $25,590 | 60 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $25,070 | 90 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $23,920 | 260 |
| Alexandria, LA | $22,410 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Bartender | $20,850 | $10.02 |
| 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 35-3041. 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 servers, nonrestaurant make in Louisiana?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Louisiana is $27,200 a year, or $13.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $32,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Louisiana earn at least $32,540 a year. The top 25% earn $30,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,580 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $21,490 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Louisiana?
About 2,380 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.