Chefs and Head Cooks Pay Range in Mississippi
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$30,900
- 25th Percentile — Junior$37,180
- 50th Percentile — Median$54,850
- 75th Percentile — Senior$76,350
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$83,850
Half of Chefs and Head Cooks in Mississippi earn more than $54,850. The top 10% make $83,850 or more, while entry-level workers start around $30,900.
Chefs and Head Cooks in Mississippi: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Mississippi ranks 45th of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks pay, at $56,910 per year (14.7% below the U.S. average of $66,700).
- 840 people work as Chefs and Head Cooks in Mississippi — 0.4% of all U.S. Chefs and Head Cooks jobs.
- Location quotient 0.56: Chefs and Head Cooks jobs are less concentrated in Mississippi than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $30,900; the top 10% earn over $83,850.
- Hourly equivalent: $27.36 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Rhode Island at $84,860.
- Among hospitality jobs in Mississippi, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation pays the most ($39,180).
Chefs and Head Cooks Job Market in Mississippi
Key factors affecting compensation
Mississippi's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and its job market is rated low. Chefs and Head Cooks here earn $56,910 on average, placing the state 45th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.8 (U.S. = 1.00), a Mississippi salary of $56,910 is roughly equivalent to $71,138 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Texas ($59,350), Utah ($58,880), Idaho ($57,390) are the closest alternatives for Chefs and Head Cooks weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Mississippi
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $39,180/yr Mississippi 31.2% vs this role
- Bartenders $36,510/yr Mississippi 35.8% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $29,770/yr Mississippi 47.7% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $27,850/yr Mississippi 51.1% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $24,680/yr Mississippi 56.6% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $24,480/yr Mississippi 57.0% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $23,880/yr Mississippi 58.0% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $23,560/yr Mississippi 58.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Mississippi?
The average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Mississippi is $56,910 per year (median $54,850), which is 14.7% below the national average of $66,700.
How does Mississippi rank for Chefs and Head Cooks pay?
Mississippi ranks 45th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Rhode Island ($84,860/yr).
How much do entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks make in Mississippi?
The lowest-paid 10% of Chefs and Head Cooks in Mississippi earn about $30,900 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,180.
How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Mississippi?
About $27.36 per hour, based on the $56,910 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Chefs and Head Cooks work in Mississippi?
BLS counts 840 Chefs and Head Cooks jobs in Mississippi (OEWS May 2025).
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