Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Gulfport, MS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area earn a median $30,590 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,267 take-home, or $2,189 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Gulfport, MS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,491
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,897
- Medicare (1.45%)$444
- Mississippi income tax$492
- Take-home pay$26,267
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Gulfport, MS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,150 | $11.13 | $20,480 | $1,707 |
| 25th percentile | $28,060 | $13.49 | $24,327 | $2,027 |
| Median (50th) | $30,590 | $14.71 | $26,267 | $2,189 |
| 75th percentile | $34,770 | $16.72 | $29,459 | $2,455 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,150 | $17.86 | $31,276 | $2,606 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Mississippi resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,590 buys in Gulfport, MS
Prices in Gulfport, MS are 10.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $26,267 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,184 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Gulfport, MS has 1.8× the national concentration of cooks, restaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Gulfport, MS ranks #95 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 95 | Gulfport, MS | $30,590 | $26,267 | $29,184 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Gulfport, MS?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area is $30,590 a year, or about $14.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,060 and $34,770.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Gulfport, MS?
On the median $30,590 salary, a single filer living in Mississippi takes home about $26,267 a year ($2,189 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $492 in Mississippi taxes in 2026.
Is Gulfport, MS a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 10.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,184 would in a typical U.S. city. Gulfport, MS ranks #95 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Gulfport, MS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Gulfport, MS is $925 a month ($1,107 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Gulfport, MS
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,820
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,600