Food Preparation Worker Salary in Lake Charles, LA
Food Preparation Workers in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median $23,380 a year — 34% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $20,548 take-home, or $1,712 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Lake Charles, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$728
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,450
- Medicare (1.45%)$339
- Louisiana income tax$315
- Take-home pay$20,548
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 3.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Lake Charles, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,740 | $8.53 | $16,073 | $1,339 |
| 25th percentile | $22,090 | $10.62 | $19,525 | $1,627 |
| Median (50th) | $23,380 | $11.24 | $20,548 | $1,712 |
| 75th percentile | $29,310 | $14.09 | $25,238 | $2,103 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,800 | $17.21 | $30,258 | $2,521 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $23,380 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 food preparation worker's $20,548 take-home pay has the buying power of $23,935 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lake Charles, LA has 3.3× 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
Lake Charles, LA ranks #244 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 |
| 244 | Lake Charles, LA | $23,380 | $20,548 | $23,935 |
*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
- 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
- Slidell, LA — $24,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $23,380 a year, or about $11.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,090 and $29,310.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Lake Charles, LA?
On the median $23,380 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $20,548 a year ($1,712 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $315 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Lake Charles, LA a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 34% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 14.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $23,935 would in a typical U.S. city. Lake Charles, LA ranks #244 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation 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) — 52% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Lake Charles, LA
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,230
- Cooks, Restaurant — $28,550
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,500
- Bartender — $18,280
- Waiter and Waitress — $15,080