Food Preparation Worker Salary in New Orleans, LA
Food Preparation Workers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $26,200 a year — 26% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,786 take-home, or $1,899 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,010
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,624
- Medicare (1.45%)$380
- Louisiana income tax$400
- Take-home pay$22,786
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 New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,490 | $8.89 | $16,668 | $1,389 |
| 25th percentile | $22,120 | $10.63 | $19,548 | $1,629 |
| Median (50th) | $26,200 | $12.60 | $22,786 | $1,899 |
| 75th percentile | $29,990 | $14.42 | $25,764 | $2,147 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,210 | $17.41 | $30,575 | $2,548 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $26,200 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 food preparation worker's $22,786 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,608 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New Orleans, LA has 2.8× 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
New Orleans, LA ranks #62 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 |
| 62 | New Orleans, LA | $26,200 | $22,786 | $24,608 |
*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
- Shreveport, LA — $22,980
- Baton Rouge, LA — $24,450
- Lafayette, LA — $22,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in New Orleans, LA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $26,200 a year, or about $12.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,120 and $29,990.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $26,200 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $22,786 a year ($1,899 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $400 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 26% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,608 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #62 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation 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) — 58% of a median food preparation 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
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $25,470
- Bartender — $21,230
- Waiter and Waitress — $16,640