Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Louisiana
In Louisiana, cooks, fast food earn a median $24,960 a year, well below the national median of $30,890 (−19%); the state ranks 48th of 51 states by median. That is 45% less than the median across all occupations in Louisiana ($45,520). Among neighbouring states, Texas and Arkansas pay more (up to $28,280 in Texas) and Mississippi pays less (down to $22,670 in Mississippi). Louisiana employs 3,000 cooks, fast food, 1.55 per 1,000 jobs, the 34th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.38 means it is less common in Louisiana than nationally.
Louisiana vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $10.04 | $10.58 | $12.00 | $13.55 | $14.25 | $12.08 | 3,000 | 1.55 | 0.38 |
| Annual | $20,890 | $22,000 | $24,960 | $28,190 | $29,640 | $25,130 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $10.86 | $13.11 | $14.85 | $17.92 | $20.63 | $15.57 | 641,070 | – | – |
| Annual | $22,580 | $27,260 | $30,890 | $37,260 | $42,910 | $32,390 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 48th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 34th of 49 states
- Location quotient
- 0.38
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.55
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Louisiana's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Louisiana
2 metropolitan areas and 1 nonmetropolitan area touching Louisiana publish a row for cooks, fast food, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | $11.62 | $24,170 | $20,800 | $28,080 | 120 | 1.94 | 0.47 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $11.50 | $23,930 | $21,190 | $28,530 | 310 | 1.94 | 0.47 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $11.00 | $22,880 | $20,740 | $27,480 | 180 | 2.81 | 0.68 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $12.00 | $24,960 | 3,000 | 0.38 |
| Arkansas | $13.32 | $27,710 | 7,860 | 1.46 |
| Mississippi | $10.90 | $22,670 | 11,170 | 2.33 |
| Texas | $13.60 | $28,280 | 36,240 | 0.62 |
See the national page for Cooks, Fast Food (every state ranked) and the Louisiana wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Louisiana estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.