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Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Louisiana

Cooks, Fast Foods in Louisiana make a median of $21,940 a year, or about $10.55 an hour. The range runs from $18K at the entry level to $24K for experienced workers.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$22K
Median annual
$10.55/hr
Hourly rate
$18K
Entry level (10th %)
$24K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $22K get you in Louisiana?

Estimated monthly take-home$1,584/mo
Median 2BR rent-$1,191/mo
Rent as % of take-home75.2% (above 30% guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$25,137/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$393/mo

About cooks, fast foods

U.S. employed: 2,120
Category: Food Service

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Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana

Bar chart showing Cooks, Fast Food salary percentiles in Louisiana: 10th percentile $18,050, 25th percentile $20,220, median $21,940, 75th percentile $22,960, 90th percentile $24,350. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$18K25th$20KMedian$22K75th$23K90th$24K
Bar chart showing Cooks, Fast Food salary percentiles in Louisiana: 10th percentile $18,050, 25th percentile $20,220, median $21,940, 75th percentile $22,960, 90th percentile $24,350. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $18K. Mid-career wages sit at $22K. Top earners bring in $24K or more, a $6K spread from bottom to top.

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Cooks, Fast Food salary by metro in Louisiana

3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
Baton Rouge$22K+1%530
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington$22K-1%130
Shreveport-Bossier City$21K-3%250

Compare to other states

Track cooks, fast food salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, fast foods make in Louisiana?

The median is $21,940 a year, that works out to about $11 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $18,050, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $24,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $22K enough to live in Louisiana?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,584/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 75.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.

How far does a cooks, fast food salary go in Louisiana?

Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, fast food salary is worth about $25,137 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do cooks, fast foods get paid the most?

The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.

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