Food Preparation Workers pay range in Lake Charles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,740 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,800 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Lake Charles earn between $22,090 and $29,310.
- $18K10th
- $22K25th
- $23KMedian
- $29K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,180 | $2,182 | $12.59 |
| Median | $23,380 | $1,948 | $11.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,090 | $1,841 | $10.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,310 | $2,442 | $14.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Lake Charles vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Lake Charles earn about the same as the Louisiana average ($25,580) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $26,180 | $23,380 | $17,740 | $35,800 | 1,940 |
| 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 Lake Charles
On the average salary of $26,180, a single filer in Lake Charles takes home about $22,770 a year, or $1,898 a month and $876 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 Lake Charles a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $26,180 buys what about $30,494 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Lake Charles ($45,700). A typical home costs $202,237, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Louisiana cities
Lake Charles ranks 3rd 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 Lake Charles: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Lake Charles?
$12.59 an hour on average, and $11.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,740 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Lake Charles?
About $22,770 a year ($1,898 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,180.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Lake Charles than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Lake Charles, LA (29340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 3.32, this job is 3.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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