Hattiesburg, MS · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Hattiesburg, MS

In the Hattiesburg, MS metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $29,800 ($14.33/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,200/year and the 90th was $37,200/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Mississippi tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $25,664 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 87.6 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$29,800$14.33 per hour · $2,483 monthly
10th Percentile$22,200$10.67/hr base
25th Percentile$26,200$12.60/hr base
75th Percentile$34,200$16.44/hr base
90th Percentile$37,200$17.88/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

$29,800
$15,000$60,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$29,800
Net 86%
Fed 5%
MS 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$25,664After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,139Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$987Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,396 / yr
Mississippi state income tax$460 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,280 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant 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 Cooks, Restaurant in the Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MS)
10th Percentile$10.67/hr$1,850$22,200$19,736
25th Percentile$12.60/hr$2,183$26,200$22,870
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$14.33/hr$2,483$29,800$25,664
75th Percentile$16.44/hr$2,850$34,200$29,024
90th Percentile$17.88/hr$3,100$37,200$31,314

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Hattiesburg, MS

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$29,800 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 Ratio49.4%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Mississippi:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Hattiesburg, MS

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Hattiesburg, MS?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Hattiesburg, MS is $29,800, which equates to approximately $2,483 per month or $14.33 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Hattiesburg, MS?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Hattiesburg, MS is $14.33 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $10.67/hour and one in ten earned more than $17.88/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Hattiesburg, MS?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Hattiesburg, MS span from $22,200 at the 10th percentile to $26,200 at the 25th, $34,200 at the 75th, and $37,200 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Hattiesburg, MS?

On a median gross salary of $29,800, an estimated $25,664 lands in net take-home pay per year ($987 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Mississippi in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $4,136 (an effective rate of 13.9%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Hattiesburg, MS?

On the median annual salary of $29,800, gross monthly income is $2,483. After federal, FICA, and Mississippi state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,139 per month (or $987 every two weeks).

Is $29,800 a good salary in Hattiesburg, MS?

At $29,800, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 49.4% 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.