Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Mississippi
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Mississippi earn a median of $27,390 a year ($13.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,620 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $37,450. Mississippi ranks 49th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 5.5 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $27,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Mississippi
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,760 | $9.98 |
| 25th percentile | $23,100 | $11.11 |
| Median | $27,390 | $13.17 |
| 75th percentile | $29,740 | $14.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,620 | $17.60 |
| Average (mean) | $27,850 | $13.39 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $2,282.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,141.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,053.46 |
| Weekly | $526.73 |
| Hourly | $13.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Mississippi
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $33,170 | 1,530 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $29,080 | 810 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $27,600 | 360 |
| Jackson, MS | $26,980 | 1,190 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Mississippi
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,670 | $10.90 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,240 | $12.61 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,610 | $10.87 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,370 | $10.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| Dishwasher | $26,300 | $12.64 |
| Bartender | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,990 | $10.57 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $23,180 | $11.15 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,850 | $26.37 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Mississippi
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Mississippi?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Mississippi is $27,390 a year, or $13.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Mississippi?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Mississippi earn at least $36,620 a year. The top 25% earn $29,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Mississippi?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,760 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $23,100 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Mississippi?
About 6,420 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Mississippi, not counting the self-employed.