Waiters and Waitresses salary in Lake Charles, LA
Waiters and Waitresses in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median of $15,080 a year ($7.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,910 for the top 10%. That is 57% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is about the same as the Louisiana statewide median of $15,080. There are 19 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $20,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Lake Charles, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 25th percentile | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Median | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| 75th percentile | $20,990 | $10.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,910 | $17.75 |
| Average (mean) | $20,490 | $9.85 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $1,256.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $628.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $580 |
| Weekly | $290 |
| Hourly | $7.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $16,640 | 10,050 |
| Alexandria, LA | $15,080 | 750 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $15,080 | 6,650 |
| Hammond, LA | $15,080 | 1,050 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $15,080 | 1,210 |
| Lafayette, LA | $15,080 | 3,410 |
| Monroe, LA | $15,080 | 1,370 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $15,080 | 2,620 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $15,080 | 2,520 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lake Charles, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,500 | $10.82 |
| Bartender | $18,280 | $8.79 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $25,590 | $12.31 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $28,550 | $13.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $20,930 | $10.06 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $20,770 | $9.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $32,460 | $15.61 |
| Dishwasher | $24,760 | $11.91 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,470 | $9.84 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $43,520 | $20.93 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lake Charles, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $15,080 a year, or $7.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Lake Charles, LA?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn at least $36,910 a year. The top 25% earn $20,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Lake Charles, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15,080 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $15,080 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Lake Charles, LA?
About 1,950 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Lake Charles, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.