Cooks, Restaurant salary in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area earn a median of $30,590 a year ($14.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,150 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% higher than the Mississippi statewide median of $29,560. There are 16 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $31,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,150 | $11.13 |
| 25th percentile | $28,060 | $13.49 |
| Median | $30,590 | $14.71 |
| 75th percentile | $34,770 | $16.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,150 | $17.86 |
| Average (mean) | $31,040 | $14.92 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,549.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,274.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,176.54 |
| Weekly | $588.27 |
| Hourly | $14.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $29,360 | 610 |
| Jackson, MS | $29,260 | 2,280 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Mississippi statewide figures.
Related jobs in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,410 | $11.26 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $24,370 | $11.72 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,520 | $13.71 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $22,600 | $10.86 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,820 | $10.97 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,760 | $18.63 |
| Bartender | $26,660 | $12.82 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $25,060 | $12.05 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $22,700 | $10.91 |
| Dishwasher | $26,470 | $12.73 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $33,430 | $16.07 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $28,750 | $13.82 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $51,240 | $24.63 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area is $30,590 a year, or $14.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area earn at least $37,150 a year. The top 25% earn $34,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,150 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,060 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS?
About 2,520 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area, not counting the self-employed.