Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,520 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Lake Charles earn between $36,130 and $52,520.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $44KMedian
- $53K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,530 | $4,044 | $23.33 |
| Median | $43,520 | $3,627 | $20.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,130 | $3,011 | $17.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,520 | $4,377 | $25.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Lake Charles earn 8% less than the Louisiana average ($52,820) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -30% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $48,530 | $43,520 | $33,140 | $75,520 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $52,820 | $45,570 | $32,320 | $86,750 | 1,990 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Lake Charles
On the average salary of $48,530, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $40,104 a year, or $3,342 a month and $1,542 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lake Charles a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lake Charles area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $48,530 buys what about $56,528 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 6th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Alexandria pays the most ($65,820).
- Alexandria$65,820
- New Orleans$57,110
- Shreveport$50,340
- Baton Rouge$50,300
- Slidell$50,030
- Lake Charles$48,530
- Hammond$45,700
- Lafayette$45,490
- Houma$43,280
- Monroe$43,250
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Lake Charles: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Lake Charles?
$23.33 an hour on average, and $20.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $40,104 a year ($3,342 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,530.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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