Cooks, Restaurant pay in New Orleans-Metairie
In New Orleans-Metairie (LA), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $14.68 an hour ($30,520 a year). About 4,720 people work in this job there.
That is 18% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 5% higher than the Louisiana median ($29,050).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in New Orleans-Metairie (LA)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $11.06 | $23,000 |
| 25% of workers | $13.55 | $28,190 |
| Half of workers (median) | $14.68 | $30,520 |
| 75% of workers | $18.14 | $37,740 |
| 90% of workers | $21.09 | $43,860 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Louisiana metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie (this page) | $30,520 | 4,720 |
| Baton Rouge | $29,910 | 2,420 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $29,050 | 1,100 |
| Lake Charles | $28,550 | 850 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $28,440 | 1,240 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $27,690 | 530 |
| Lafayette | $27,660 | 1,430 |
| Alexandria | $27,220 | 360 |
| Hammond | $27,130 | 460 |
| Monroe | $27,090 | 570 |
Louisiana unemployment rate: 4.2% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in New Orleans-Metairie (LA)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $26,200 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,370 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.