SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Memphis
Memphis, TN-MS-AR · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Memphis, TN is $36,340 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Memphis, TN is $36,340 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $30,460 and $38,930. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,030 and the ninetieth at $44,560.
Employment stands at 4,800, or 7.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $38,170. Of the 564 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 493rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,030 | −27.7% |
| 25th | $30,460 | −18.5% |
| Median (50th) | $36,340 | −2.8% |
| 75th | $38,930 | +4.1% |
| 90th | $44,560 | +19.2% |
| Mean | $35,500 | −5.1% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $38,170 | 10,420 | |
| 2 | Knoxville | $36,520 | 3,820 | |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $36,010 | 2,490 | |
| 4 | Morristown | $35,670 | 320 | |
| 5 | Jackson | $35,490 | 490 | |
| 6 | Cleveland | $35,030 | 340 | |
| 7 | Clarksville | $34,840 | 880 | |
| 8 | Johnson City | $34,620 | 780 | |
| 9 | Kingsport | $34,600 | 1,020 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Memphis run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $36,340 goes as far as $39,543 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,340as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,543US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,340 a year, 2.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,030 to $44,560 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,800 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $38,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Memphis, TN?
The median annual wage is $36,340, or $17.47 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $37,390, so pay in Memphis, TN is 2.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Memphis, TN earns more than $44,560 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,030 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $38,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,800 jobs in this occupation in Memphis, TN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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