Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Louisiana
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Louisiana (2026)
$12.26 per hour · take-home ≈ $22,211/year ($1,851/month) for a single filer
Louisiana ranks last (51st of 51) for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 33% below the national average. Of the 5,740 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Louisiana, the typical worker earns $25,490 a year — though pay ranges from $19,250 for newcomers to $36,200 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Louisiana
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $19,250 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $22,290 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $25,490 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $30,410 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $36,200 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 5,740 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Louisiana (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Louisiana
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $25,490 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Louisiana state income tax, a single filer keeps about $22,211 — an effective tax rate of 12.9%.
| Gross (median) | $25,490 |
| Federal income tax | −$939 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$1,950 |
| Louisiana state income tax | −$390 |
| Take-home (annual) | $22,211 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $1,851 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Louisiana paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Louisiana?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Louisiana is $25,490 per year ($12.26 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $22,290 and $30,410.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Louisiana?
- On the median salary of $25,490, a single filer in Louisiana takes home about $22,211 per year ($1,851 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 12.9%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Louisiana?
- BLS counts 5,740 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Louisiana in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Louisiana
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Louisiana state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Louisiana.