Food Preparation Workers pay range in Jackson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,240 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Jackson earn between $21,040 and $33,540.
- $19K10th
- $21K25th
- $27KMedian
- $34K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,550 | $2,296 | $13.25 |
| Median | $27,200 | $2,267 | $13.08 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $21,040 | $1,753 | $10.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,540 | $2,795 | $16.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Jackson vs. Mississippi and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Jackson earn about the same as the Mississippi average ($26,750) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $27,550 | $27,200 | $18,720 | $37,240 | 1,220 |
| 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 Jackson
On the average salary of $27,550, a single filer in Jackson takes home about $23,927 a year, or $1,994 a month and $920 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 Jackson a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $27,550 buys what about $30,938 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Jackson ($42,850). A typical home costs $215,136, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Mississippi cities
Jackson ranks 2nd 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 Jackson: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Jackson?
$13.24 an hour on average, and $13.08 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Jackson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $21,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Jackson?
About $23,927 a year ($1,994 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,550.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Jackson than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Jackson, MS (27140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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