Cooks, Short Order salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Cooks, Short Order in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median of $24,720 a year ($11.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 500 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,720 for the top 10%. That is 31% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 6% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $26,260. There are 1.1 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $28,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,990 | $10.09 |
| 25th percentile | $20,990 | $10.09 |
| Median | $24,720 | $11.89 |
| 75th percentile | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| Average (mean) | $28,300 | $13.61 |
Half of cooks, short order earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,060 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,030 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $950.77 |
| Weekly | $475.38 |
| Hourly | $11.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $33,540 | 360 |
| Hammond, LA | $31,800 | 70 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $25,050 | 200 |
| Lafayette, LA | $24,340 | n/a |
| Monroe, LA | $23,350 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,200 | $12.60 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,520 | $14.68 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,370 | $14.12 |
| Cooks, All Other | $30,840 | $14.83 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $25,470 | $12.25 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $16,640 | $8.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Bartender | $21,230 | $10.21 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $23,060 | $11.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,240 | $12.62 |
| Dishwasher | $27,690 | $13.31 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $23,420 | $11.26 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,400 | $22.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2015. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $24,720 a year, or $11.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn at least $38,720 a year. The top 25% earn $33,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,990 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $20,990 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About 500 cooks, short order are employed in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.