Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Jackson, MS
Cooks, Restaurant in the Jackson, MS metro area earn a median $29,260 a year — 22% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,252 take-home, or $2,104 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Jackson, MS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,331
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,814
- Medicare (1.45%)$424
- Mississippi income tax$438
- Take-home pay$25,252
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Jackson, MS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,190 | $10.67 | $19,728 | $1,644 |
| 25th percentile | $24,470 | $11.76 | $21,514 | $1,793 |
| Median (50th) | $29,260 | $14.07 | $25,252 | $2,104 |
| 75th percentile | $33,150 | $15.94 | $28,222 | $2,352 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,260 | $17.43 | $30,597 | $2,550 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Mississippi resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,260 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, restaurant's $25,252 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,358 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Jackson, MS as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Jackson, MS ranks #312 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 312 | Jackson, MS | $29,260 | $25,252 | $28,358 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Mississippi
- Gulfport, MS — $30,590
- Hattiesburg, MS — $29,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Jackson, MS?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Jackson, MS metro area is $29,260 a year, or about $14.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $24,470 and $33,150.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Jackson, MS?
On the median $29,260 salary, a single filer living in Mississippi takes home about $25,252 a year ($2,104 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $438 in Mississippi taxes in 2026.
Is Jackson, MS a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 22% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 11.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,358 would in a typical U.S. city. Jackson, MS ranks #312 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 50% of a median cooks, restaurant’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
- 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
- Cooks, Fast Food — $22,310
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $21,990
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,440