Monroe, LA metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does a food preparation worker make in Monroe, LA?

In the Monroe, LA metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median of $22,430 a year ($10.78 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 1,630 of these jobs there. That is 41% below the $38,150 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $17,170 and $34,000; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Louisiana tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $19,794 in take-home pay.

Food preparation worker pay in Monroe, LA at a glance

Median salary

$22,430$10.78 per hour · $1,869 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$17,170$8.26/hr
25th percentile$21,380$10.28/hr
75th percentile$28,650$13.78/hr
90th percentile$34,000$16.35/hr
Jobs in this metro1,630Location quotient 3.25 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here41% belowAll-jobs median $38,150
Against Louisiana5% belowStatewide median $23,620
Against the U.S.36% belowNational median $35,320

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.

Food preparation worker salary in Monroe, LA after taxes

$22,430
$15,000$45,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$22,430
Net 88%
Fed 3%
LA 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$19,794After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,650Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$761Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate11.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$633 / yr
Louisiana state income tax$287 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$1,716 / yr

Food preparation workers pay range in Monroe, LA, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Monroe, LA metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What food preparation workers earned in the Monroe, LA metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (LA)
10th percentile$8.26/hr$1,431$17,170$15,621
25th percentile$10.28/hr$1,782$21,380$18,961
MedianMedian$10.78/hr$1,869$22,430$19,794
75th percentile$13.78/hr$2,388$28,650$24,727
90th percentile$16.35/hr$2,833$34,000$28,865

Is $22,430 a good salary in Monroe, LA?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for food preparation workers next to both.

Median household income$51,660Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)83.616.4% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household43.4%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Food preparation worker pay in Monroe, LA: common questions

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Monroe, LA?

The BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in the Monroe, LA metro area was $22,430 in May 2025, about $1,869 a month or $10.78 an hour. Statewide, the Louisiana median for this job is $23,620, so the metro pays 5% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Monroe, LA?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Monroe, LA was $10.78 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $8.26 an hour and one in ten earned more than $16.35.

How many food preparation workers work in Monroe, LA?

BLS estimated 1,630 jobs for food preparation workers in the metro in May 2025, or 18.7 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 3.25 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Monroe, LA?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Monroe, LA run from $17,170 at the 10th percentile to $21,380 at the 25th, $28,650 at the 75th, and $34,000 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Monroe, LA?

On a median gross salary of $22,430, an estimated $19,794 lands in net take-home pay per year ($761 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Louisiana in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $2,636 (an effective rate of 11.8%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Monroe, LA?

On the median annual salary of $22,430, gross monthly income is $1,869. After federal, FICA, and Louisiana state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,650 per month (or $761 every two weeks).

Is $22,430 a good salary in Monroe, LA?

At $22,430, the median salary for food preparation workers is 43.4% of the Monroe, LA median household income ($51,660). It is 41% below the $38,150 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 83.6, so prices here run 16.4% below the U.S. average.