Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Jackson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,310 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Jackson earn between $36,660 and $86,170.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $64KMedian
- $86K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,760 | $5,063 | $29.21 |
| Median | $64,480 | $5,373 | $31.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,660 | $3,055 | $17.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,170 | $7,181 | $41.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Jackson vs. Mississippi and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Jackson earn 7% more than the Mississippi average ($56,910) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $60,760 | $64,480 | $31,300 | $86,310 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $56,910 | $54,850 | $30,900 | $83,850 | 840 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Jackson
On the average salary of $60,760, a single filer in Jackson takes home about $49,302 a year, or $4,109 a month and $1,896 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Jackson a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Jackson area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.0), so the average $60,760 buys what about $68,233 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Jackson ($42,850). A typical home costs $215,136, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Mississippi cities
Jackson ranks 1st of 3 Mississippi metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Jackson$60,760
- Gulfport$55,630
- Hattiesburg$55,000
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Jackson: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Jackson?
$29.21 an hour on average, and $31.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Jackson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Jackson?
About $49,302 a year ($4,109 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,760.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Jackson than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Jackson, MS (27140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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