Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA

In the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $30,500 ($14.66/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $23,100/year and the 90th was $41,600/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Louisiana tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $26,158 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 92.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$30,500$14.66 per hour · $2,542 monthly
10th Percentile$23,100$11.11/hr base
25th Percentile$27,200$13.08/hr base
75th Percentile$37,800$18.17/hr base
90th Percentile$41,600$20.00/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$30,500
$15,000$65,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$30,500
Net 86%
Fed 5%
LA 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$26,158After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,180Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,006Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate14.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,480 / yr
Louisiana state income tax$529 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,333 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (LA)
10th Percentile$11.11/hr$1,925$23,100$20,326
25th Percentile$13.08/hr$2,267$27,200$23,579
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$14.66/hr$2,542$30,500$26,158
75th Percentile$18.17/hr$3,150$37,800$31,805
90th Percentile$20.00/hr$3,467$41,600$34,744

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$30,500 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$81,202Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index92.77.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio37.6%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Louisiana:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA is $30,500, which equates to approximately $2,542 per month or $14.66 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA is $14.66 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.11/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.00/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA span from $23,100 at the 10th percentile to $27,200 at the 25th, $37,800 at the 75th, and $41,600 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?

On a median gross salary of $30,500, an estimated $26,158 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,006 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Louisiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,342 (an effective rate of 14.2%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?

On the median annual salary of $30,500, gross monthly income is $2,542. After federal, FICA, and Louisiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,180 per month (or $1,006 every two weeks).

Is $30,500 a good salary in Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA?

At $30,500, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 37.6% of the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA median household income ($81,202). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 92.7, making regional consumer goods and services 7.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.