Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $67,860 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Lafayette earn between $36,850 and $49,910.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $42KMedian
- $50K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,490 | $3,791 | $21.87 |
| Median | $42,060 | $3,505 | $20.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,850 | $3,071 | $17.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,910 | $4,159 | $24.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Lafayette earn 14% less than the Louisiana average ($52,820) and 32% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -33% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $45,490 | $42,060 | $32,320 | $67,860 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $52,820 | $45,570 | $32,320 | $86,750 | 1,990 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $45,490, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $37,753 a year, or $3,146 a month and $1,452 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $45,490 buys what about $52,162 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 8th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Alexandria pays the most ($65,820).
- Alexandria$65,820
- New Orleans$57,110
- Shreveport$50,340
- Baton Rouge$50,300
- Slidell$50,030
- Lake Charles$48,530
- Hammond$45,700
- Lafayette$45,490
- Houma$43,280
- Monroe$43,250
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Lafayette?
$21.87 an hour on average, and $20.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $37,753 a year ($3,146 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,490.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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