Food Preparation Workers pay range in Alexandria
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $29,590 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Alexandria earn between $19,640 and $25,440.
- $17K10th
- $20K25th
- $22KMedian
- $25K75th
- $30K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $22,980 | $1,915 | $11.05 |
| Median | $22,080 | $1,840 | $10.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $19,640 | $1,637 | $9.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $25,440 | $2,120 | $12.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Alexandria vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Alexandria earn 10% less than the Louisiana average ($25,580) and 35% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $22,980 | $22,080 | $16,620 | $29,590 | 980 |
| Louisiana | $25,580 | $23,620 | $17,970 | $34,190 | 30,920 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Alexandria
On the average salary of $22,980, a single filer in Alexandria takes home about $20,231 a year, or $1,686 a month and $778 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Alexandria a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Alexandria area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.7), so the average $22,980 buys what about $26,819 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Alexandria ($40,600). A typical home costs $171,604, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Louisiana cities
Alexandria ranks 10th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($27,140).
- New Orleans$27,140
- Slidell$26,370
- Lake Charles$26,180
- Baton Rouge$25,950
- Shreveport$25,750
- Lafayette$24,850
- Hammond$24,790
- Monroe$24,510
- Houma$24,140
- Alexandria$22,980
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Alexandria: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Alexandria?
$11.05 an hour on average, and $10.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Alexandria?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $16,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $19,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Alexandria?
About $20,231 a year ($1,686 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $22,980.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Alexandria than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Alexandria, LA (10780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 2.83, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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