Food Preparation Worker salary in Louisiana
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Louisiana earns a median of $23,620 a year ($11.36/hour equivalent), 33.1% below the national median of $35,320. Louisiana ranks #51 of 51 states. About 30,920 people do this job in Louisiana.
Take-home pay in Louisiana
At the Louisiana median, a single filer keeps about $20,739 a year after federal, FICA and Louisiana taxes — $798 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Louisiana paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $908.46
- Federal income tax
- −$28.92
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$56.32
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$13.17
- Louisiana income tax
- −$12.40
- Take-home pay
- $797.64
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $23,620
- Federal
- $752
- FICA
- $1,807
- State + local
- $322
- Net
- $20,739
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Louisiana compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Louisiana?
The median salary is $23,620 a year and the average is $25,580 (BLS May 2025).
Is Louisiana a good state for food preparation workers?
Louisiana ranks #51 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 33% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $23,620 after taxes in Louisiana?
About $20,739 a year ($798 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.