SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Lower East Mississippi
Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area · 3 metro areas compared
At $21,860, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Cooks, Fast Food, 29.2% beneath the national figure of $30,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $21,860, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Cooks, Fast Food, 29.2% beneath the national figure of $30,890. Pay ranges from under $16,980 at the tenth percentile to more than $28,430 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $18,250 to $23,630.
The area has 1,180 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 2.31 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Hattiesburg records the highest median at $23,470. Of the 344 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 337th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16,980 | −45.0% |
| 25th | $18,250 | −40.9% |
| Median (50th) | $21,860 | −29.2% |
| 75th | $23,630 | −23.5% |
| 90th | $28,430 | −8.0% |
| Mean | $22,200 | −28.1% |
Other metro areas in Mississippi
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hattiesburg | $23,470 | 1,010 | |
| 2 | Gulfport | $23,410 | 1,720 | |
| 3 | Jackson | $22,310 | 2,470 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lower East Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $21,860 goes as far as $25,126 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$21,860as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$25,126US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $21,860 a year, 29.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $16,980 to $28,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hattiesburg, at $23,470.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Lower East Mississippi, MS?
The median annual wage is $21,860, or $10.51 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $30,890, so pay in Lower East Mississippi, MS is 29.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Lower East Mississippi, MS earns more than $28,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $16,980 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Hattiesburg, at $23,470 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,180 jobs in this occupation in Lower East Mississippi, MS. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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