Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Mississippi
Chefs and Head Cooks in Mississippi earn a median of $54,850 a year ($26.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 840 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,850 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $62,470. Mississippi ranks 42nd of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 0.72 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $56,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Mississippi
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,900 | $14.85 |
| 25th percentile | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Median | $54,850 | $26.37 |
| 75th percentile | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Average (mean) | $56,910 | $27.36 |
Half of chefs and head cooks 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 | $4,570.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,285.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,109.62 |
| Weekly | $1,054.81 |
| Hourly | $26.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,850 salary, see how much house you can afford in Mississippi at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Mississippi
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,230 | 540 |
| Jackson, MS | $64,480 | 120 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $54,870 | 40 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $51,240 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
Related jobs in Mississippi
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,610 | $10.87 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,370 | $10.27 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $22,670 | $10.90 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,240 | $12.61 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $27,390 | $13.17 |
| 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 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $30,600 | $14.71 |
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 35-1011. 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 chefs and head cooks make in Mississippi?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Mississippi is $54,850 a year, or $26.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,900 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Mississippi?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Mississippi earn at least $83,850 a year. The top 25% earn $76,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Mississippi?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,900 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $37,180 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Mississippi?
About 840 chefs and head cooks are employed in Mississippi, not counting the self-employed.