Paycheck Atlas

Food Preparation Workers salary in Lake Charles, LA

The median food preparation workers in Lake Charles, LA earns $23,380 a year, 34% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $1,680 a month.

10th percentile
$17,740
25th percentile
$22,090
Median percentile
$23,380
75th percentile
$29,310
90th percentile
$35,800

Based on 1,940 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$20,162 take-home a year
Gross pay$23,380
Federal income tax−$728
Social Security + Medicare−$1,789
Louisiana income tax (approx.)−$701
Monthly take-home$1,680
Every two weeks$775

Does it go far here?

$27,233Median pay in Lake Charles, LA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 85.9 vs 100).
64%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,081 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Lake Charles, LA

JobMedian pay
Managers, All Other$103,550
Chemical Plant and System Operators$102,310
General and Operations Managers$101,370
Engineers, All Other$94,810
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,280
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$92,560
Registered Nurses$90,690
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$87,940

All food preparation workers salaries · Take-home pay in Louisiana