Mississippi Median
$29,560
per year
Hourly Rate
$14.21
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-21% vs US median
US median $37,390
State Rank
#50 of 51
10,770 employed here
How much does a Cook, Restaurant make in Mississippi?
A Cook, Restaurant working in Mississippi earns a median salary of $29,560 per year, or about $14.21 per hour. That is 21% below the national median of $37,390 for this occupation.
Within Mississippi, entry-level pay starts around $22,010 while the top 10% make $36,880 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $26,000 and $33,940 a year.
Cook, Restaurant salary range in Mississippi
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,010 | $10.58 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $26,000 | $12.50 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $29,560 | $14.21 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $33,940 | $16.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,880 | $17.73 |
|
How Mississippi compares
Mississippi ranks 50th out of 51 states and territories for Cook, Restaurant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cook, Restaurant salary in other states
Washington $46,800District of Columbia $46,130Massachusetts $45,600Hawaii $45,420Vermont $45,390Maine $45,290California $44,880New York $43,680Oregon $43,100Colorado $41,600New Hampshire $40,200Alaska $40,140Connecticut $39,480Arizona $38,670Nevada $38,610Minnesota $38,590New Jersey $38,460Montana $38,060Delaware $37,840Maryland $37,820Illinois $37,580Nebraska $37,030Florida $37,020Michigan $36,980Missouri $36,940Wyoming $36,830Virginia $36,750Pennsylvania $36,580Wisconsin $36,550Rhode Island $36,510Utah $36,490North Dakota $36,470Idaho $36,440Tennessee $36,420South Dakota $36,220Georgia $35,940South Carolina $35,740Iowa $35,670Ohio $35,540North Carolina $35,400Indiana $35,170Kansas $35,130New Mexico $35,020Texas $34,760Kentucky $34,640Alabama $32,180Oklahoma $31,720Arkansas $30,180West Virginia $29,590Louisiana $29,050
Working as a Cook, Restaurant in Mississippi
Nationally, about 1,410,000 people work as Cooks, Restaurant in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Mississippi pay ($29,560) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cook, Restaurant make in Mississippi?
The median Cook, Restaurant salary in Mississippi is $29,560 per year, or about $14.21 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $22,010 at the entry level to $36,880 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Mississippi pay compare to the national average?
Mississippi pays Cooks, Restaurant about 21% less than the national median of $37,390. Mississippi ranks 50th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Mississippi a good state for Cooks, Restaurant?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $29,560 a year. About 10,770 Cooks, Restaurant are employed in Mississippi. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Mississippi?
The highest-paying occupations in Mississippi include Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($544,130), General Internal Medicine Physician ($325,610), Physician, Pathologists ($261,570), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Cook, Restaurant salary report
Related salaries
$35,320
median pay · 894,000 employed
$44,080
median pay · 1,223,000 employed
$35,880
median pay · 139,000 employed
$31,200
median pay · 3,854,000 employed
$35,840
median pay · 85,000 employed
$35,360
median pay · 294,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.