How much does a food server make in New Orleans?
$29,460a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area. That is $14.16 an hour or $2,455 a month.
- Hourly
- $14.16
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 279 of 353
- Jobs in the area
- 770
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $19,600Median: $29,460Highest 10%: $32,980
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19,600 | $9.42 | |
| 25th | $22,370 | $10.75 | |
| Median | $29,460 | $14.16 | |
| 75th | $31,840 | $15.31 | |
| 90th | $32,980 | $15.86 |
Other cities in Louisiana
Median yearly pay for food servers.
| Lafayette, LA | $27,860 |
| Slidell, LA | $27,580 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $27,330 |
| Monroe, LA | $25,690 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $25,590 |
| Houma, LA | $25,070 |
| Shreveport, LA | $23,920 |
| Alexandria, LA | $22,410 |
Related jobs in New Orleans
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $46,400 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $38,130 |
| Cook | $30,840 |
| Cook | $30,520 |
| Cook | $29,370 |
| Dishwasher | $27,690 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $26,240 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,200 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $25,470 |
| Cook | $24,720 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in New Orleans?
The median hourly pay in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $14.16 ($29,460 a year).
Do food servers make more in New Orleans than the national average?
No: $29,460 against $35,360 nationally, 17% less.
How does New Orleans compare with the rest of Louisiana?
The median in Louisiana is $27,200, so New Orleans pays 8% more.
Where does New Orleans rank for food server pay?
279 of 353 metro areas with data.
How much does a food server make starting out in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% make $19,600 or less a year; the top 10% make $32,980 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.