Food Preparation Worker Salary in Alexandria, LA
Food Preparation Workers in the Alexandria, LA metro area earn a median $22,080 a year — 37% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,517 take-home, or $1,626 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Alexandria, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$598
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,369
- Medicare (1.45%)$320
- Louisiana income tax$276
- Take-home pay$19,517
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Alexandria, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16,620 | $7.99 | $15,184 | $1,265 |
| 25th percentile | $19,640 | $9.44 | $17,581 | $1,465 |
| Median (50th) | $22,080 | $10.62 | $19,517 | $1,626 |
| 75th percentile | $25,440 | $12.23 | $22,183 | $1,849 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $29,590 | $14.23 | $25,454 | $2,121 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,080 buys in Alexandria, LA
Prices in Alexandria, LA are 14.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 46% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $19,517 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,777 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Alexandria, 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
Alexandria, LA ranks #253 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 253 | Alexandria, LA | $22,080 | $19,517 | $22,777 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Louisiana
- New Orleans, LA — $26,200
- Lake Charles, LA — $23,380
- Shreveport, LA — $22,980
- Hammond, LA — $22,740
- Monroe, LA — $22,430
- Houma, LA — $22,810
- Baton Rouge, LA — $24,450
- Lafayette, LA — $22,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Alexandria, LA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Alexandria, LA metro area is $22,080 a year, or about $10.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,640 and $25,440.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Alexandria, LA?
On the median $22,080 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $19,517 a year ($1,626 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $276 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Alexandria, LA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 37% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 14.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,777 would in a typical U.S. city. Alexandria, LA ranks #253 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Alexandria, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Alexandria, LA is $780 a month ($994 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Alexandria, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $30,640
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $21,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080