Cooks, Restaurant salary in Mississippi
Cooks, Restaurant in Mississippi earn a median of $29,560 a year ($14.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,880 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $37,390. Mississippi ranks 50th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 9.3 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $29,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Mississippi
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,010 | $10.58 |
| 25th percentile | $26,000 | $12.50 |
| Median | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| 75th percentile | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Average (mean) | $29,770 | $14.31 |
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 | $2,463.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,231.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,136.92 |
| Weekly | $568.46 |
| Hourly | $14.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Mississippi
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Mississippi
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,670 | $10.90 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,240 | $12.61 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,390 | $13.17 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Mississippi?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Mississippi is $29,560 a year, or $14.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $36,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Mississippi?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Mississippi earn at least $36,880 a year. The top 25% earn $33,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Mississippi?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,010 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $26,000 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Mississippi?
About 10,770 cooks, restaurant are employed in Mississippi, not counting the self-employed.