Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,240 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lafayette earn between $21,170 and $30,720.
- $19K10th
- $21K25th
- $26KMedian
- $31K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,000 | $2,250 | $12.98 |
| Median | $26,400 | $2,200 | $12.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,170 | $1,764 | $10.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,720 | $2,560 | $14.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Lafayette earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($27,300) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -30% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $27,000 | $26,400 | $18,620 | $37,240 | 470 |
| Louisiana | $27,300 | $25,490 | $19,250 | $36,200 | 5,740 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $27,000, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $23,421 a year, or $1,952 a month and $901 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $27,000 buys what about $30,960 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 6th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Lake Charles pays the most ($31,940).
- Lake Charles$31,940
- Slidell$31,600
- Shreveport$30,570
- New Orleans$30,110
- Baton Rouge$27,080
- Lafayette$27,000
- Houma$26,140
- Hammond$25,420
- Alexandria$25,190
- Monroe$24,610
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Lafayette?
$12.98 an hour on average, and $12.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $23,421 a year ($1,952 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,000.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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