Food Preparation Workers pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $30,840 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Lafayette earn between $21,140 and $28,420.
- $17K10th
- $21K25th
- $23KMedian
- $28K75th
- $31K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $24,850 | $2,071 | $11.95 |
| Median | $22,920 | $1,910 | $11.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,140 | $1,762 | $10.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $28,420 | $2,368 | $13.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Lafayette earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($25,580) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -35% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $24,850 | $22,920 | $17,380 | $30,840 | 3,260 |
| Louisiana | $25,580 | $23,620 | $17,970 | $34,190 | 30,920 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $24,850, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $21,715 a year, or $1,810 a month and $835 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 Lafayette a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $24,850 buys what about $28,495 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 6th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($27,140).
- New Orleans$27,140
- Slidell$26,370
- Lake Charles$26,180
- Baton Rouge$25,950
- Shreveport$25,750
- Lafayette$24,850
- Hammond$24,790
- Monroe$24,510
- Houma$24,140
- Alexandria$22,980
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Lafayette?
$11.95 an hour on average, and $11.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $21,715 a year ($1,810 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $24,850.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 3.16, this job is 3.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.