Food Preparation Worker Salary in Jackson, MS
Food Preparation Workers in the Jackson, MS metro area earn a median $27,200 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $23,653 take-home, or $1,971 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Jackson, MS. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,110
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,686
- Medicare (1.45%)$394
- Mississippi income tax$356
- Take-home pay$23,653
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 4.00% state
Food Preparation Worker 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 | $21,040 | $10.12 | $18,827 | $1,569 |
| Median (50th) | $27,200 | $13.08 | $23,653 | $1,971 |
| 75th percentile | $33,540 | $16.13 | $28,520 | $2,377 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,240 | $17.90 | $31,345 | $2,612 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Mississippi resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,200 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 food preparation worker's $23,653 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,562 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are less concentrated in Jackson, MS than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Jackson, MS ranks #224 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 |
| 224 | Jackson, MS | $27,200 | $23,653 | $26,562 |
*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
- Hattiesburg, MS — $28,270
- Gulfport, MS — $24,370
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Jackson, MS?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Jackson, MS metro area is $27,200 a year, or about $13.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $21,040 and $33,540.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Jackson, MS?
On the median $27,200 salary, a single filer living in Mississippi takes home about $23,653 a year ($1,971 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $356 in Mississippi taxes in 2026.
Is Jackson, MS a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 23% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 11.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,562 would in a typical U.S. city. Jackson, MS ranks #224 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 53% of a median food preparation worker’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
- 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