Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in New Orleans, LA

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

Median annual salary $27,160 -21.2% vs national
Median hourly $13.06
10th percentile $18,460
90th percentile $32,590
Employed locally 1,190
National median $34,460

Compare Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary & buying power

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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
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New Orleans, LA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $18,460
    25th
    $20,800
    50th (median)
    $27,160
    75th
    $30,330
    90th
    $32,590

    New Orleans economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $62,271 2023 • Census ACS
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary vs area income 44% Median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $57,540
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $45,030
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,600
    Ithaca, NY $40,230

    Nearby metros — Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,710
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $44,200
    Flagstaff, AZ $38,200
    Vineland, NJ $37,360
    Alaska nonmetropolitan area $37,080
    Portland-South Portland, ME $36,990

    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 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant make per hour in New Orleans?

    The median hourly wage for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in New Orleans, LA is $13.06, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $15.85 or more per hour.

    Is New Orleans above or below average for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salaries?

    The median Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in New Orleans, LA is 21.2% below the national median of $34,460. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in New Orleans?

    Entry-level Food Servers, Nonrestaurant (10th percentile) earn around $18,460 per year in New Orleans, LA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $20,800.