Hattiesburg, MS · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Food Preparation Worker Salary in Hattiesburg, MS

In the Hattiesburg, MS metropolitan area, food preparation workers earned a median annual wage of $26,400 ($12.69/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $18,900/year and the 90th was $36,400/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Mississippi tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $23,026 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 87.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$26,400$12.69 per hour · $2,200 monthly
10th Percentile$18,900$9.09/hr base
25th Percentile$21,600$10.38/hr base
75th Percentile$30,300$14.57/hr base
90th Percentile$36,400$17.50/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$26,400
$15,000$55,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$26,400
Net 87%
Fed 4%
MS 1%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$23,026After all taxes
Monthly deposit$1,919Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$886Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate12.8%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,030 / yr
Mississippi state income tax$324 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,020 / yr

Food Preparation Workers Wage Percentiles in Hattiesburg, MS

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Food Preparation Workers in the Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MS)
10th Percentile$9.09/hr$1,575$18,900$17,150
25th Percentile$10.38/hr$1,800$21,600$19,266
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$12.69/hr$2,200$26,400$23,026
75th Percentile$14.57/hr$2,525$30,300$26,046
90th Percentile$17.50/hr$3,033$36,400$30,703

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Hattiesburg, MS

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$26,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$60,285Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index87.612.4% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio43.8%of area median income

Compare food preparation workers salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Mississippi:

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Preparation Workers Pay in Hattiesburg, MS

What is the median salary for food preparation workers in Hattiesburg, MS?

The official BLS median annual wage for food preparation workers in Hattiesburg, MS is $26,400, which equates to approximately $2,200 per month or $12.69 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for food preparation workers in Hattiesburg, MS?

The median hourly wage for food preparation workers in Hattiesburg, MS is $12.69 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $9.09/hour and one in ten earned more than $17.50/hour.

What is the pay range for food preparation workers in Hattiesburg, MS?

BLS wage estimates for food preparation workers in Hattiesburg, MS span from $18,900 at the 10th percentile to $21,600 at the 25th, $30,300 at the 75th, and $36,400 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do food preparation workers take home after taxes in Hattiesburg, MS?

On a median gross salary of $26,400, an estimated $23,026 lands in net take-home pay per year ($886 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Mississippi in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $3,374 (an effective rate of 12.8%).

How much do food preparation workers make per month in Hattiesburg, MS?

On the median annual salary of $26,400, gross monthly income is $2,200. After federal, FICA, and Mississippi state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $1,919 per month (or $886 every two weeks).

Is $26,400 a good salary in Hattiesburg, MS?

At $26,400, the median salary for food preparation workers is 43.8% of the Hattiesburg, MS median household income ($60,285). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 87.6, making regional consumer goods and services 12.4% cheaper than the U.S. average.