Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Lake Charles, LA
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn a median of $25,590 a year ($12.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $17,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,200 for the top 10%. That is 28% lower than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 6% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $27,200. There are 0.56 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $25,120, close to the median.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Lake Charles, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $17,740 | $8.53 |
| 25th percentile | $20,690 | $9.95 |
| Median | $25,590 | $12.31 |
| 75th percentile | $29,000 | $13.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Average (mean) | $25,120 | $12.08 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,132.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,066.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $984.23 |
| Weekly | $492.12 |
| Hourly | $12.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $25,590 salary, see how much house you can afford in Louisiana at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $29,460 | 770 |
| Lafayette, LA | $27,860 | 270 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $27,580 | 90 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $27,330 | 390 |
| Hammond, LA | $26,450 | 40 |
| Monroe, LA | $25,690 | 100 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $25,070 | 90 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $23,920 | 260 |
| Alexandria, LA | $22,410 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lake Charles, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,500 | $10.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | $7.25 |
| Bartender | $18,280 | $8.79 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $28,550 | $13.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $20,930 | $10.06 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $20,770 | $9.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $32,460 | $15.61 |
| Dishwasher | $24,760 | $11.91 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $20,470 | $9.84 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $43,520 | $20.93 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Lake Charles, LA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3041. 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 food servers, nonrestaurant make in Lake Charles, LA?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $25,590 a year, or $12.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $17,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $31,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Lake Charles, LA?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Lake Charles, LA metro area earn at least $31,200 a year. The top 25% earn $29,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Lake Charles, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $17,740 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $20,690 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Lake Charles, LA?
About 60 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Lake Charles, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.