Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in New Orleans, LA

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

Median annual salary $29,030 -20.4% vs national
Median hourly $13.96
10th percentile $22,240
90th percentile $38,800
Employed locally 1,300
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
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New Orleans, LA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,240
    25th
    $22,470
    50th (median)
    $29,030
    75th
    $33,630
    90th
    $38,800

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 53% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $48,080
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,920
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $47,700
    Alaska $46,900
    Walla Walla, WA $45,940

    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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in New Orleans?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in New Orleans, LA is $13.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.52 or more per hour.

    Is New Orleans above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in New Orleans, LA is 20.4% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in New Orleans?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $22,240 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,470.