Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Baton Rouge
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,310 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Baton Rouge earn between $23,240 and $29,140.
- $22K10th
- $23K25th
- $25KMedian
- $29K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,080 | $2,257 | $13.02 |
| Median | $24,740 | $2,062 | $11.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,240 | $1,937 | $11.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,140 | $2,428 | $14.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Baton Rouge vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Baton Rouge earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($27,300) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $27,080 | $24,740 | $22,260 | $35,310 | 1,240 |
| Louisiana | $27,300 | $25,490 | $19,250 | $36,200 | 5,740 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Baton Rouge
On the average salary of $27,080, a single filer in Baton Rouge takes home about $23,484 a year, or $1,957 a month and $903 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Baton Rouge a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baton Rouge area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $27,080 buys what about $29,830 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Baton Rouge ($48,710). A typical home costs $248,176, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Louisiana cities
Baton Rouge ranks 5th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Lake Charles pays the most ($31,940).
- Lake Charles$31,940
- Slidell$31,600
- Shreveport$30,570
- New Orleans$30,110
- Baton Rouge$27,080
- Lafayette$27,000
- Houma$26,140
- Hammond$25,420
- Alexandria$25,190
- Monroe$24,610
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Baton Rouge: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Baton Rouge?
$13.02 an hour on average, and $11.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Baton Rouge?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Baton Rouge?
About $23,484 a year ($1,957 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,080.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Baton Rouge than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Baton Rouge, LA (12940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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