Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Houma
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $32,180 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Houma earn between $23,060 and $27,860.
- $23K10th
- $23K25th
- $23KMedian
- $28K75th
- $32K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,140 | $2,178 | $12.57 |
| Median | $23,480 | $1,957 | $11.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,060 | $1,922 | $11.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $27,860 | $2,322 | $13.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Houma vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Houma earn 4% less than the Louisiana average ($27,300) and 33% less than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houma | $26,140 | $23,480 | $22,670 | $32,180 | 420 |
| Louisiana | $27,300 | $25,490 | $19,250 | $36,200 | 5,740 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Houma
On the average salary of $26,140, a single filer in Houma takes home about $22,738 a year, or $1,895 a month and $875 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 Houma a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houma area are 15% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.1), so the average $26,140 buys what about $30,716 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Houma ($45,610). A typical home costs $186,622, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Louisiana cities
Houma ranks 7th of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Lake Charles pays the most ($31,940).
- Lake Charles$31,940
- Slidell$31,600
- Shreveport$30,570
- New Orleans$30,110
- Baton Rouge$27,080
- Lafayette$27,000
- Houma$26,140
- Hammond$25,420
- Alexandria$25,190
- Monroe$24,610
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Houma: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Houma?
$12.57 an hour on average, and $11.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Houma?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Houma?
About $22,738 a year ($1,895 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,140.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Houma than elsewhere?
The average here is 33% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
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 35-2012; area Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA (26380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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