How much does a cook make in Memphis?
$27,230a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area. That is $13.09 an hour or $2,269 a month.
- Hourly
- $13.09
- Vs. national median
- -12%
- Rank among cities
- 225 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 2,270
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,040Median: $27,230Highest 10%: $35,030
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,040 | $10.60 | |
| 25th | $22,930 | $11.02 | |
| Median | $27,230 | $13.09 | |
| 75th | $29,140 | $14.01 | |
| 90th | $35,030 | $16.84 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Nashville, TN | $34,210 |
| Knoxville, TN | $27,580 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 |
| Kingsport, TN | $26,930 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $26,890 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,430 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,430 |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,420 |
Related jobs in Memphis
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $66,230 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,620 |
| Cook | $38,950 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $38,530 |
| Cook | $36,340 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper | $34,740 |
| Cook | $33,170 |
| Food Server | $31,080 |
| Cook | $29,880 |
| Dishwasher | $29,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Memphis?
The median hourly pay in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $13.09 ($27,230 a year).
Do cooks make more in Memphis than the national average?
No: $27,230 against $30,890 nationally, 12% less.
How does Memphis compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $28,330, so Memphis pays 4% less.
Where does Memphis rank for cook pay?
225 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,040 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,030 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.