Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $29,410 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Lafayette earn between $24,960 and $27,860.
- $20K10th
- $25K25th
- $28KMedian
- $28K75th
- $29K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $25,700 | $2,142 | $12.36 |
| Median | $27,860 | $2,322 | $13.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,960 | $2,080 | $12.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $27,860 | $2,322 | $13.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Lafayette earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($26,000) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $25,700 | $27,860 | $19,690 | $29,410 | 270 |
| Louisiana | $26,000 | $27,200 | $18,580 | $32,540 | 2,380 |
| United States | $36,140 | $35,360 | $28,030 | $46,120 | 293,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $25,700, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $22,389 a year, or $1,866 a month and $861 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 servers, nonrestaurant? 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 $25,700 buys what about $29,469 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 4th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($27,640).
- New Orleans$27,640
- Baton Rouge$27,150
- Slidell$26,210
- Lafayette$25,700
- Hammond$25,540
- Lake Charles$25,120
- Houma$24,760
- Shreveport$24,180
- Monroe$24,130
- Alexandria$22,900
Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).
- Kahului, HI$59,020
- San Jose, CA$50,590
- San Francisco, CA$48,600
- Napa, CA$48,550
- Vallejo, CA$46,710
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Lafayette?
$12.36 an hour on average, and $13.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $22,389 a year ($1,866 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $25,700.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).
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 35-3041; area Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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