Cooks, Restaurant salary in Jackson, MS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Jackson, MS metro area earn a median of $29,260 a year ($14.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,260 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the Mississippi statewide median of $29,560. There are 8.4 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,000, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Jackson, MS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,190 | $10.67 |
| 25th percentile | $24,470 | $11.77 |
| Median | $29,260 | $14.07 |
| 75th percentile | $33,150 | $15.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Average (mean) | $29,000 | $13.94 |
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 | $2,438.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,219.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,125.38 |
| Weekly | $562.69 |
| Hourly | $14.07 |
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 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $29,360 | 610 |
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 Jackson, MS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,310 | $10.73 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Jackson, MS?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Jackson, MS metro area is $29,260 a year, or $14.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Jackson, MS?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Jackson, MS metro area earn at least $36,260 a year. The top 25% earn $33,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Jackson, MS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,190 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $24,470 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Jackson, MS?
About 2,280 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Jackson, MS metro area, not counting the self-employed.