Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Jackson, MS

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Jackson, MS

Median annual salary $30,080 -18.3% vs national
Median hourly $14.46
10th percentile $21,210
90th percentile $37,250
Employed locally 2,000
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Jackson, MS
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $21,210
    25th
    $24,140
    50th (median)
    $30,080
    75th
    $34,520
    90th
    $37,250

    Jackson economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,489 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 50% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 50% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $34,560
    Williamsport, PA $30,680
    Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $30,440
    Hattiesburg, MS $28,280

    Related occupations in Jackson, MS

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,560
    Waiters and Waitresses$20,880
    Cooks, Fast Food$22,350
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$35,680
    Food Preparation Workers$26,700
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$26,000

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Jackson?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Jackson, MS is $14.46, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.43 or more per hour.

    Is Jackson above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Jackson, MS is 18.3% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Jackson?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $21,210 per year in Jackson, MS. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $24,140.