Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $66,230 a year ($31.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,080 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 5% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $69,810. There are 0.88 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $68,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,630 | $20.49 |
| 25th percentile | $50,230 | $24.15 |
| Median | $66,230 | $31.84 |
| 75th percentile | $80,360 | $38.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,080 | $47.15 |
| Average (mean) | $68,660 | $33.01 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,519.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,759.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,547.31 |
| Weekly | $1,273.65 |
| Hourly | $31.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $70,420 | 1,780 |
| Jackson, TN | $69,280 | 60 |
| Jackson, MS | $64,480 | 120 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,690 | 280 |
| Knoxville, TN | $62,770 | 470 |
| Cleveland, TN | $62,180 | 30 |
| Morristown, TN | $61,290 | 30 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 100 |
| Johnson City, TN | $59,990 | 100 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $58,240 | 40 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 100 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $54,870 | 40 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $52,970 | 40 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $51,240 | 230 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $51,230 | 220 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $50,270 | 50 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $44,050 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,620 | $19.05 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,490 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,550 | $11.80 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,290 | $13.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,230 | $13.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,610 | $13.27 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| Bartender | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| Dishwasher | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,880 | $14.37 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,530 | $18.52 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $66,230 a year, or $31.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $98,080 a year. The top 25% earn $80,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,630 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $50,230 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 540 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.