Cooks, Restaurant salary in Hattiesburg, MS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area earn a median of $29,360 a year ($14.12 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,150 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the Mississippi statewide median of $29,560. There are 9.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,340, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Hattiesburg, MS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,420 | $10.78 |
| 25th percentile | $26,640 | $12.81 |
| Median | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| 75th percentile | $33,090 | $15.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,150 | $16.90 |
| Average (mean) | $29,340 | $14.11 |
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 | $2,446.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,223.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,129.23 |
| Weekly | $564.62 |
| Hourly | $14.12 |
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 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30,590 | 2,520 |
| 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 Hattiesburg, MS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $23,470 | $11.28 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,270 | $13.59 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,550 | $10.84 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,830 | $10.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $34,750 | $16.71 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $26,260 | $12.62 |
| Dishwasher | $26,180 | $12.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $21,230 | $10.21 |
| Bartender | $26,360 | $12.67 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $25,970 | $12.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $54,870 | $26.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Hattiesburg, 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 Hattiesburg, MS?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area is $29,360 a year, or $14.12 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $35,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Hattiesburg, MS?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area earn at least $35,150 a year. The top 25% earn $33,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Hattiesburg, MS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,420 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $26,640 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Hattiesburg, MS?
About 610 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area, not counting the self-employed.