SOC 35-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — Lower West Mississippi
Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay in Lower West Mississippi, MS is $27,280 a year, 27.2% under the national median of $37,450 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Lower West Mississippi, MS is $27,280 a year, 27.2% under the national median of $37,450 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $22,960 and $29,190. The lowest tenth earn under $20,760, while the highest tenth earn more than $34,820.
The area has 530 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 6.6 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Gulfport records the highest median at $29,080. Of the 280 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 256th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20,760 | −44.6% |
| 25th | $22,960 | −38.7% |
| Median (50th) | $27,280 | −27.2% |
| 75th | $29,190 | −22.1% |
| 90th | $34,820 | −7.0% |
| Mean | $27,720 | −26.0% |
Other metro areas in Mississippi
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulfport | $29,080 | 810 | |
| 2 | Hattiesburg | $27,600 | 360 | |
| 3 | Jackson | $26,980 | 1,190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lower West Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $27,280 goes as far as $31,356 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$27,280as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$31,356US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $27,280 a year, 27.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $20,760 to $34,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 530 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Gulfport, at $29,080.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Lower West Mississippi, MS?
The median annual wage is $27,280, or $13.12 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 $37,450, so pay in Lower West Mississippi, MS is 27.2% 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 West Mississippi, MS earns more than $34,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $20,760 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 Gulfport, at $29,080 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 530 jobs in this occupation in Lower West 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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