Cooks, Short Order Salary in New Orleans, LA

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

Median annual salary $27,950 -21.5% vs national
Median hourly $13.44
10th percentile $22,130
90th percentile $48,220
Employed locally 800
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
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New Orleans, LA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $22,130
    25th
    $25,540
    50th (median)
    $27,950
    75th
    $34,810
    90th
    $48,220

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 45% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 55% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,270
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,310
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $40,330
    Alaska $39,940
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $38,970
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $37,600

    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 Cooks, Short Order make per hour in New Orleans?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in New Orleans, LA is $13.44, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $18.62 or more per hour.

    Is New Orleans above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in New Orleans, LA is 21.5% below the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in New Orleans?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $22,130 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $25,540.