Food Preparation Worker Salary in Hattiesburg, MS
Food Preparation Workers in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area earn a median $28,270 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,492 take-home, or $2,041 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Hattiesburg, MS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,217
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,753
- Medicare (1.45%)$410
- Mississippi income tax$399
- Take-home pay$24,492
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Hattiesburg, MS
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,790 | $9.51 | $17,847 | $1,487 |
| 25th percentile | $22,100 | $10.63 | $19,657 | $1,638 |
| Median (50th) | $28,270 | $13.59 | $24,492 | $2,041 |
| 75th percentile | $36,100 | $17.36 | $30,474 | $2,540 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $36,100 | $17.36 | $30,474 | $2,540 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Mississippi resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $28,270 buys in Hattiesburg, MS
Prices in Hattiesburg, MS are 12.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 40% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $24,492 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,948 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Hattiesburg, MS has 1.7× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Hattiesburg, MS ranks #183 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 183 | Hattiesburg, MS | $28,270 | $24,492 | $27,948 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Mississippi
- Jackson, MS — $27,200
- Gulfport, MS — $24,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Hattiesburg, MS?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area is $28,270 a year, or about $13.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,100 and $36,100.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Hattiesburg, MS?
On the median $28,270 salary, a single filer living in Mississippi takes home about $24,492 a year ($2,041 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $399 in Mississippi taxes in 2026.
Is Hattiesburg, MS a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 12.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,948 would in a typical U.S. city. Hattiesburg, MS ranks #183 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Hattiesburg, MS?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Hattiesburg, MS is $888 a month ($1,047 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Hattiesburg, MS
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,750
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,360
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,550
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,830