Food Preparation Workers Salary in Mississippi
In Mississippi, food preparation workers earn a median $26,240 a year, well below the national median of $35,320 (−26%); the state ranks 50th of 51 states by median. That is 35% less than the median across all occupations in Mississippi ($40,120). Among neighbouring states, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas pay more (up to $28,700 in Tennessee) and Louisiana pays less (down to $23,620 in Louisiana). Mississippi employs 7,870 food preparation workers, 6.77 per 1,000 jobs, the 31st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.18 is close to the national share.
Mississippi vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Mississippi | Hourly | $9.04 | $10.30 | $12.61 | $14.47 | $17.36 | $12.86 | 7,870 | 6.77 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $18,790 | $21,430 | $26,240 | $30,100 | $36,100 | $26,750 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $12.41 | $14.40 | $16.98 | $18.53 | $21.80 | $16.96 | 893,600 | – | – |
| Annual | $25,810 | $29,950 | $35,320 | $38,550 | $45,340 | $35,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 50th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 31st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.18
- Jobs per 1,000
- 6.77
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Mississippi's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Mississippi
4 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Mississippi publish a row for food preparation workers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MS | $13.59 | $28,270 | $19,790 | $36,100 | 620 | 9.99 | 1.74 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $13.12 | $27,290 | $22,370 | $37,240 | 3,530 | 5.76 | 1.00 |
| Jackson, MS | $13.08 | $27,200 | $18,720 | $37,240 | 1,220 | 4.49 | 0.78 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $11.72 | $24,370 | $20,020 | $36,360 | 1,440 | 9.13 | 1.59 |
| Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $13.02 | $27,090 | $19,760 | $33,980 | 1,500 | 6.98 | 1.21 |
| Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $11.45 | $23,810 | $19,000 | $31,030 | 1,030 | 8.36 | 1.46 |
| West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $11.45 | $23,810 | $18,720 | $32,900 | 730 | 7.91 | 1.38 |
| Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $10.56 | $21,970 | $18,370 | $30,360 | 560 | 6.98 | 1.21 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Food Preparation Workers (every state ranked) and the Mississippi wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Mississippi estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.