Fast Food and Counter Worker Salary in Lake Charles, LA
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median $22,500 a year — 28% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,850 take-home, or $1,654 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fast food and counter worker salary in Lake Charles, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$640
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,395
- Medicare (1.45%)$326
- Louisiana income tax$289
- Take-home pay$19,850
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 Lake Charles, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,330 | $8.81 | $16,541 | $1,378 |
| 25th percentile | $21,870 | $10.51 | $19,350 | $1,613 |
| Median (50th) | $22,500 | $10.82 | $19,850 | $1,654 |
| 75th percentile | $24,180 | $11.63 | $21,183 | $1,765 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $30,010 | $14.43 | $25,779 | $2,148 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,500 buys in Lake Charles, LA
Prices in Lake Charles, LA are 14.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 48% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fast food and counter worker's $19,850 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,121 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 Lake Charles, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for fast food and counter workers, adjusted for cost of living
Lake Charles, LA ranks #228 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 |
| 228 | Lake Charles, LA | $22,500 | $19,850 | $23,121 |
*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
- New Orleans, LA — $25,470
- Shreveport, LA — $22,460
- 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 Lake Charles, LA?
The median fast food and counter worker salary in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $22,500 a year, or about $10.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,870 and $24,180.
What is a fast food and counter worker’s take-home pay in Lake Charles, LA?
On the median $22,500 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $19,850 a year ($1,654 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $289 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lake Charles, LA a good place to work as a fast food and counter worker?
Pay here is 28% below the national median of $31,200. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,121 would in a typical U.S. city. Lake Charles, LA ranks #228 of 241 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fast food and counter worker afford rent in Lake Charles, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lake Charles, LA is $894 a month ($1,172 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median fast food and counter worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.