Food Preparation Workers pay range in Hattiesburg
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,100 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Hattiesburg earn between $22,100 and $36,100.
- $20K10th
- $22K25th
- $28KMedian
- $36K75th
- $36K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,100 | $2,425 | $13.99 |
| Median | $28,270 | $2,356 | $13.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,100 | $1,842 | $10.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,100 | $3,008 | $17.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Hattiesburg vs. Mississippi and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Hattiesburg earn 9% more than the Mississippi average ($26,750) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg | $29,100 | $28,270 | $19,790 | $36,100 | 620 |
| 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 Hattiesburg
On the average salary of $29,100, a single filer in Hattiesburg takes home about $25,130 a year, or $2,094 a month and $967 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hattiesburg a good place for food preparation workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hattiesburg area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.6), so the average $29,100 buys what about $33,207 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Hattiesburg ($37,750). A typical home costs $218,044, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Mississippi cities
Hattiesburg ranks 1st of 3 Mississippi metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Food Preparation Workers salary in Hattiesburg: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Hattiesburg?
$13.99 an hour on average, and $13.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Hattiesburg?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Hattiesburg?
About $25,130 a year ($2,094 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,100.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Hattiesburg than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Hattiesburg, MS (25620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 1.74, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.