Cooks, Fast Food salary in Jackson, MS
Cooks, Fast Food in the Jackson, MS metro area earn a median of $22,310 a year ($10.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,720 for the top 10%. That is 28% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 2% lower than the Mississippi statewide median of $22,670. There are 9.1 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $22,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Jackson, MS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,720 | $9.00 |
| 25th percentile | $20,580 | $9.90 |
| Median | $22,310 | $10.73 |
| 75th percentile | $23,510 | $11.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $28,720 | $13.81 |
| Average (mean) | $22,840 | $10.98 |
Half of cooks, fast food earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $1,859.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $929.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $858.08 |
| Weekly | $429.04 |
| Hourly | $10.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $23,470 | 1,010 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $23,410 | 1,720 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Mississippi statewide figures.
Related jobs in Jackson, MS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,200 | $13.08 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $26,980 | $12.97 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,450 | $13.68 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,630 | $10.88 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,440 | $10.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,720 | $18.13 |
| Dishwasher | $26,150 | $12.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,400 | $11.73 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,990 | $10.57 |
| Bartender | $29,230 | $14.05 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,940 | $13.92 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,570 | $14.70 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Jackson, MS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Jackson, MS?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Jackson, MS metro area is $22,310 a year, or $10.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Jackson, MS?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Jackson, MS metro area earn at least $28,720 a year. The top 25% earn $23,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Jackson, MS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,720 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $20,580 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Jackson, MS?
About 2,470 cooks, fast food are employed in the Jackson, MS metro area, not counting the self-employed.