Cooks, Fast Food salary in Mississippi
Cooks, Fast Food in Mississippi earn a median of $22,670 a year ($10.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,170 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,790 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $30,890. Mississippi ranks 51st of 51 states for cooks, fast food pay. There are 9.6 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $23,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Mississippi
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,540 | $8.91 |
| 25th percentile | $21,350 | $10.26 |
| Median | $22,670 | $10.90 |
| 75th percentile | $26,750 | $12.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $28,790 | $13.84 |
| Average (mean) | $23,560 | $11.33 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $1,889.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $944.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $871.92 |
| Weekly | $435.96 |
| Hourly | $10.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in cities in Mississippi
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $23,470 | 1,010 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $23,410 | 1,720 |
| Jackson, MS | $22,310 | 2,470 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
Related jobs in Mississippi
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $29,560 | $14.21 |
| 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 35-2011. 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, fast food make in Mississippi?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in Mississippi is $22,670 a year, or $10.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Mississippi?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in Mississippi earn at least $28,790 a year. The top 25% earn $26,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Mississippi?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,540 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $21,350 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Mississippi?
About 11,170 cooks, fast food are employed in Mississippi, not counting the self-employed.