Waiters and Waitresses salary in Louisiana
Waiters and Waitresses in Louisiana earn a median of $15,080 a year ($7.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,870 workers.
Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,060 for the top 10%. That is 57% lower than the national median of $35,230. Louisiana ranks 51st of 51 states for waiters and waitresses pay. There are 18 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $22,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Louisiana
| 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 | $23,350 | $11.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Average (mean) | $22,350 | $10.75 |
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 cities in Louisiana
| 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 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $15,080 | 1,950 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,800 | $10.96 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 Louisiana?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in Louisiana is $15,080 a year, or $7.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $15,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in Louisiana earn at least $38,060 a year. The top 25% earn $23,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana?
About 33,870 waiters and waitresses are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.