Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,190 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in New Orleans earn between $44,740 and $62,880.
- $37K10th
- $45K25th
- $46KMedian
- $63K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,110 | $4,759 | $27.46 |
| Median | $46,400 | $3,867 | $22.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,740 | $3,728 | $21.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,880 | $5,240 | $30.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in New Orleans earn 8% more than the Louisiana average ($52,820) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $57,110 | $46,400 | $37,090 | $91,190 | 660 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $57,110, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $46,741 a year, or $3,895 a month and $1,798 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $57,110 buys what about $61,676 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 2nd 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 New Orleans: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in New Orleans?
$27.46 an hour on average, and $22.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $46,741 a year ($3,895 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,110.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.6%.
- 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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