Food Preparation Workers pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,210 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in New Orleans earn between $22,120 and $29,990.
- $18K10th
- $22K25th
- $26KMedian
- $30K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,140 | $2,262 | $13.05 |
| Median | $26,200 | $2,183 | $12.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,120 | $1,843 | $10.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,990 | $2,499 | $14.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in New Orleans earn 6% more than the Louisiana average ($25,580) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $27,140 | $26,200 | $18,490 | $36,210 | 7,250 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $27,140, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $23,532 a year, or $1,961 a month and $905 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 New Orleans a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $27,140 buys what about $29,310 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 9.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 1st of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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
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Food Preparation Workers salary in New Orleans: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in New Orleans?
$13.05 an hour on average, and $12.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $23,532 a year ($1,961 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,140.
Do food preparation workers earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 2.83, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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