Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Lafayette, LA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median $27,660 a year — 26% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,944 take-home, or $1,995 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Lafayette, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,156
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,715
- Medicare (1.45%)$401
- Louisiana income tax$444
- Take-home pay$23,944
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Lafayette, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,570 | $10.37 | $19,112 | $1,593 |
| 25th percentile | $23,440 | $11.27 | $20,596 | $1,716 |
| Median (50th) | $27,660 | $13.30 | $23,944 | $1,995 |
| 75th percentile | $33,990 | $16.34 | $28,858 | $2,405 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,520 | $17.56 | $30,814 | $2,568 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,660 buys in Lafayette, LA
Prices in Lafayette, LA are 12.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 41% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $23,944 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,456 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Lafayette, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Lafayette, LA ranks #324 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 324 | Lafayette, LA | $27,660 | $23,944 | $27,456 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- Shreveport, LA — $28,440
- Lake Charles, LA — $28,550
- Baton Rouge, LA — $29,910
- New Orleans, LA — $30,520
- Houma, LA — $27,690
- Monroe, LA — $27,090
- Hammond, LA — $27,130
- Slidell, LA — $29,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Lafayette, LA?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $27,660 a year, or about $13.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,440 and $33,990.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Lafayette, LA?
On the median $27,660 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $23,944 a year ($1,995 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $444 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lafayette, LA a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 26% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 12.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,456 would in a typical U.S. city. Lafayette, LA ranks #324 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Lafayette, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lafayette, LA is $847 a month ($974 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $35,000
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $26,400
- Dishwasher — $25,300
- Food Preparation Worker — $22,920
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,320
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $21,650
- Bartender — $19,070
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080