SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Memphis
Memphis, TN-MS-AR · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Memphis, TN is $29,880 a year, trailing the national median of $35,880 by 16.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Memphis, TN is $29,880 a year, trailing the national median of $35,880 by 16.7%. Half of workers earn between $27,920 and $34,680. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $24,240 and the ninetieth at $37,460.
The area has 590 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.0 of every thousand jobs. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $37,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 545th of 564 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,240 | −32.4% |
| 25th | $27,920 | −22.2% |
| Median (50th) | $29,880 | −16.7% |
| 75th | $34,680 | −3.3% |
| 90th | $37,460 | +4.4% |
| Mean | $31,080 | −13.4% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $37,830 | 600 | |
| 2 | Kingsport | $30,510 | 120 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $30,210 | 320 | |
| 4 | Clarksville | $30,170 | 100 | |
| 5 | Chattanooga | $29,950 | 200 | |
| 6 | Johnson City | $29,460 | 80 | |
| 7 | Cleveland | $28,660 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Memphis run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $29,880 goes as far as $32,514 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$29,880as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,514US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $29,880 a year, 16.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $24,240 to $37,460 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 590 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $37,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Memphis, TN?
The median annual wage is $29,880, or $14.37 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 $35,880, so pay in Memphis, TN is 16.7% 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 $37,460 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $24,240 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 $37,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 590 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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