Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Jackson, MS
Cooks, Fast Food in the Jackson, MS metro area earn a median $22,310 a year — 28% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $19,822 take-home, or $1,652 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, fast food salary in Jackson, MS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$621
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,383
- Medicare (1.45%)$323
- Mississippi income tax$160
- Take-home pay$19,822
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.00% state
Cooks, Fast Food pay by experience in Jackson, MS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,720 | $9.00 | $17,009 | $1,417 |
| 25th percentile | $20,580 | $9.89 | $18,466 | $1,539 |
| Median (50th) | $22,310 | $10.73 | $19,822 | $1,652 |
| 75th percentile | $23,510 | $11.30 | $20,762 | $1,730 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $28,720 | $13.81 | $24,840 | $2,070 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Mississippi resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $22,310 buys in Jackson, MS
Prices in Jackson, MS are 11.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 35% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, fast food's $19,822 take-home pay has the buying power of $22,260 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Jackson, MS has 2.2× the national concentration of cooks, fast food jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, fast food, adjusted for cost of living
Jackson, MS ranks #168 of 174 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $47,220 | $38,625 | $34,979 |
| 2 | Merced, CA | $40,430 | $33,533 | $34,122 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $41,480 | $34,321 | $34,020 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $38,560 | $33,163 | $33,817 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $44,030 | $37,558 | $33,796 |
| 6 | Modesto, CA | $42,510 | $35,094 | $33,710 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $44,450 | $36,550 | $33,694 |
| 8 | Hanford, CA | $41,280 | $34,171 | $33,629 |
| 168 | Jackson, MS | $22,310 | $19,822 | $22,260 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 174 metros →
Cooks, Fast Food salaries elsewhere in Mississippi
- Hattiesburg, MS — $23,470
- Gulfport, MS — $23,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, fast food make in Jackson, MS?
The median cooks, fast food salary in the Jackson, MS metro area is $22,310 a year, or about $10.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $20,580 and $23,510.
What is a cooks, fast food’s take-home pay in Jackson, MS?
On the median $22,310 salary, a single filer living in Mississippi takes home about $19,822 a year ($1,652 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $160 in Mississippi taxes in 2026.
Is Jackson, MS a good place to work as a cooks, fast food?
Pay here is 28% below the national median of $30,890. Local prices are 11.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $22,260 would in a typical U.S. city. Jackson, MS ranks #168 of 174 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, fast food afford rent in Jackson, MS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Jackson, MS is $1,045 a month ($1,229 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median cooks, fast food’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Jackson, MS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,720
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,260
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,200
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $26,980
- Dishwasher — $26,150
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $24,400
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,630
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $21,990
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,440