Waiters and Waitresses Pay Range in Louisiana
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$15,080
- 25th Percentile — Junior$15,080
- 50th Percentile — Median$15,080
- 75th Percentile — Senior$23,350
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$38,060
Half of Waiters and Waitresses in Louisiana earn more than $15,080. The top 10% make $38,060 or more, while entry-level workers start around $15,080.
Waiters and Waitresses in Louisiana: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Louisiana ranks 51st of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses pay, at $22,350 per year (44.2% below the U.S. average of $40,060).
- 33,870 people work as Waiters and Waitresses in Louisiana — 1.5% of all U.S. Waiters and Waitresses jobs.
- Location quotient 1.20: Waiters and Waitresses jobs are more concentrated in Louisiana than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $15,080; the top 10% earn over $38,060.
- Hourly equivalent: $10.75 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $68,260.
- Among hospitality jobs in Louisiana, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($52,820).
Waiters and Waitresses Job Market in Louisiana
Key factors affecting compensation
Louisiana's key industries are Energy, Tourism, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Waiters and Waitresses here earn $22,350 on average, placing the state 51st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Louisiana salary of $22,350 is roughly equivalent to $25,398 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Georgia ($26,610), South Carolina ($25,900), Oklahoma ($25,870) are the closest alternatives for Waiters and Waitresses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Louisiana
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $52,820/yr Louisiana +136.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $39,360/yr Louisiana +76.1% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $30,630/yr Louisiana +37.0% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $27,300/yr Louisiana +22.1% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $27,250/yr Louisiana +21.9% vs this role
- Bartenders $25,250/yr Louisiana +13.0% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $25,130/yr Louisiana +12.4% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $24,580/yr Louisiana +10.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Louisiana?
The average Waiters and Waitresses salary in Louisiana is $22,350 per year (median $15,080), which is 44.2% below the national average of $40,060.
How does Louisiana rank for Waiters and Waitresses pay?
Louisiana ranks 51st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($68,260/yr).
How much do entry-level Waiters and Waitresses make in Louisiana?
The lowest-paid 10% of Waiters and Waitresses in Louisiana earn about $15,080 per year and the 25th percentile is $15,080.
How much do Waiters and Waitresses make per hour in Louisiana?
About $10.75 per hour, based on the $22,350 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Waiters and Waitresses work in Louisiana?
BLS counts 33,870 Waiters and Waitresses jobs in Louisiana (OEWS May 2025).
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