Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in New Orleans, LA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New Orleans-Metairie, LA

Median annual salary $39,850 -34.7% vs national
Median hourly $19.16
10th percentile $22,500
90th percentile $77,740
Employed locally 700
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New Orleans, LA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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New Orleans, LA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,500
    25th
    $29,270
    50th (median)
    $39,850
    75th
    $61,800
    90th
    $77,740

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 64% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 36% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Alexandria, LA $80,290
    Rhode Island $79,160
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $78,050
    Naples-Marco Island, FL $74,990
    Vineland, NJ $72,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $71,600

    Related occupations in New Orleans, LA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Waiters and Waitresses $18,380
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $26,710
    Food Preparation Workers $24,150
    Cooks, Restaurant $30,570
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,080
    Bartenders $21,220

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in New Orleans?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in New Orleans, LA is $19.16, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $43.84 or more per hour.

    Is New Orleans above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in New Orleans, LA is 34.7% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in New Orleans?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $22,500 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,270.