Food Preparation Worker Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Food Preparation Workers in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $24,450 a year — 31% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $21,397 take-home, or $1,783 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$835
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,516
- Medicare (1.45%)$355
- Louisiana income tax$347
- Take-home pay$21,397
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,870 | $9.07 | $16,970 | $1,414 |
| 25th percentile | $22,600 | $10.87 | $19,929 | $1,661 |
| Median (50th) | $24,450 | $11.75 | $21,397 | $1,783 |
| 75th percentile | $27,990 | $13.46 | $24,206 | $2,017 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $33,800 | $16.25 | $28,711 | $2,393 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $24,450 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $21,397 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,571 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Baton Rouge, LA has 2.5× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #64 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 64 | Baton Rouge, LA | $24,450 | $21,397 | $23,571 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- New Orleans, LA — $26,200
- Shreveport, LA — $22,980
- Lafayette, LA — $22,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $24,450 a year, or about $11.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,600 and $27,990.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $24,450 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $21,397 a year ($1,783 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $347 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 31% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,571 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #64 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baton Rouge, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,910
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,650
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080