Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in New Orleans, LA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $25,470 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,207 take-home, or $1,851 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$937
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,579
- Medicare (1.45%)$369
- Louisiana income tax$378
- Take-home pay$22,207
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fast Food and Counter Worker pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,340 | $10.74 | $19,723 | $1,644 |
| 25th percentile | $22,990 | $11.05 | $20,239 | $1,687 |
| Median (50th) | $25,470 | $12.25 | $22,207 | $1,851 |
| 75th percentile | $28,580 | $13.74 | $24,673 | $2,056 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,030 | $16.84 | $29,662 | $2,472 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $25,470 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $22,207 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,982 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Fast Food and Counter Worker jobs are about as common in New Orleans, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #217 of 241 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modesto, CA | $42,630 | $35,184 | $33,796 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $44,110 | $36,295 | $33,458 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,610 | $35,920 | $33,326 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $44,570 | $36,640 | $33,182 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $42,860 | $35,357 | $33,146 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $41,740 | $34,517 | $32,845 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $42,280 | $34,922 | $32,808 |
| 8 | Salinas, CA | $43,260 | $35,657 | $32,701 |
| 217 | New Orleans, LA | $25,470 | $22,207 | $23,982 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 241 metros →
About the job: fast food and counter workers
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages. Counter attendants who also wait tables are included in "Waiters and Waitresses" (35-3031),
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.8% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Fast Food and Counter Worker salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $22,460
- Lake Charles, LA — $22,500
- Baton Rouge, LA — $23,650
- Lafayette, LA — $22,320
- Slidell, LA — $23,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food and counter worker make in New Orleans, LA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $25,470 a year, or about $12.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,990 and $28,580.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $25,470 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $22,207 a year ($1,851 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $378 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,982 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #217 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,130
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,520
- Food Preparation Worker — $26,200
- Bartender — $21,230
- Waiter and Waitress — $16,640