Cooks, Restaurant Salary in New Orleans, LA

In New Orleans, LA, cooks in the restaurant industry earn a median annual salary of $30,570, which translates to an hourly wage of approximately $14.70. This figure is notably lower than the national median for cooks, which stands at $36,830 annually. When comparing these earnings to local household income, it becomes evident that cooks' salaries represent about 49% of the area's median household income of $62,271. This disparity highlights a significant gap between what individual workers in this occupation earn and the broader economic conditions experienced by households within the region.

Entry-level cooks typically fall around the lower end of the salary spectrum, with earnings near the 10th percentile at approximately $22,540 annually or about $10.84 per hour. In contrast, those who have gained more experience can expect salaries closer to the 75th percentile, earning around $35,970 per year or $17.27 hourly. The difference in pay between entry-level and experienced workers is driven largely by factors such as tenure, skill level, and specialization within the culinary field. Experienced cooks may also command higher wages due to their ability to manage more complex tasks, lead kitchen teams, or work in higher-end establishments, thereby justifying the upward trajectory in salary progression.