Food Preparation Workers pay range in Gulfport
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,360 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Gulfport earn between $21,520 and $30,330.
- $20K10th
- $22K25th
- $24KMedian
- $30K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $26,660 | $2,222 | $12.82 |
| Median | $24,370 | $2,031 | $11.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,520 | $1,793 | $10.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $30,330 | $2,528 | $14.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Gulfport vs. Mississippi and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Gulfport earn about the same as the Mississippi average ($26,750) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -31% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $26,660 | $24,370 | $20,020 | $36,360 | 1,440 |
| Mississippi | $26,750 | $26,240 | $18,790 | $36,100 | 7,870 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Gulfport
On the average salary of $26,660, a single filer in Gulfport takes home about $23,230 a year, or $1,936 a month and $893 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Gulfport a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Gulfport area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.0), so the average $26,660 buys what about $29,620 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Gulfport ($43,470). A typical home costs $224,666, or 8.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Mississippi cities
Gulfport ranks 3rd of 3 Mississippi metro areas for this job; Hattiesburg pays the most ($29,100).
- Hattiesburg$29,100
- Jackson$27,550
- Gulfport$26,660
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Gulfport: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Gulfport?
$12.82 an hour on average, and $11.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Gulfport?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,520, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Gulfport?
About $23,230 a year ($1,936 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $26,660.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Gulfport than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Gulfport-Biloxi, MS (25060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 1.59, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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