SOC 35-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — Lower East Mississippi
Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Lower East Mississippi, MS is $22,920 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,840 — a gap of 36.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Lower East Mississippi, MS is $22,920 per year, substantially below the national median of $35,840 — a gap of 36.0%. Pay ranges from under $22,920 at the tenth percentile to more than $31,980 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $22,920 to $27,130.
Gulfport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $33,430. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 330th of 344 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,920 | −36.0% |
| 25th | $22,920 | −36.0% |
| Median (50th) | $22,920 | −36.0% |
| 75th | $27,130 | −24.3% |
| 90th | $31,980 | −10.8% |
| Mean | $25,480 | −28.9% |
Other metro areas in Mississippi
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lower East Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $22,920 goes as far as $26,345 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 26.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$22,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$26,345US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $22,920 a year, 36.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,920 to $31,980 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Gulfport, at $33,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other in Lower East Mississippi, MS?
The median annual wage is $22,920, or $11.02 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 $35,840, so pay in Lower East Mississippi, MS is 36.0% 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 $31,980 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,920 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 $33,430 per year.
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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