How much does a food server make in Lake Charles?
$25,590a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the Lake Charles, LA metro area. That is $12.30 an hour or $2,133 a month.
- Hourly
- $12.30
- Vs. national median
- -28%
- Rank among cities
- 342 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $17,740Median: $25,590Highest 10%: $31,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17,740 | $8.53 | |
| 25th | $20,690 | $9.95 | |
| Median | $25,590 | $12.30 | |
| 75th | $29,000 | $13.94 | |
| 90th | $31,200 | $15.00 |
Other cities in Louisiana
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| New Orleans, LA | $29,460 |
| Lafayette, LA | $27,860 |
| Slidell, LA | $27,580 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $27,330 |
| Monroe, LA | $25,690 |
| Houma, LA | $25,070 |
| Shreveport, LA | $23,920 |
| Alexandria, LA | $22,410 |
Related jobs in Lake Charles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $43,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $34,230 |
| Cook | $32,460 |
| Cook | $28,550 |
| Dishwasher | $24,760 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $23,380 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $22,500 |
| Host and Hostess | $20,930 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $20,770 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $20,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Lake Charles?
The median hourly pay in the Lake Charles, LA metro area is $12.30 ($25,590 a year).
Do food servers make more in Lake Charles than the national average?
No: $25,590 against $35,360 nationally, 28% less.
How does Lake Charles compare with the rest of Louisiana?
The median in Louisiana is $27,200, so Lake Charles pays 6% less.
Where does Lake Charles rank for food server pay?
342 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in Lake Charles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $17,740 or less a year; the top 10% make $31,200 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.