Cooks, Restaurant salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Cooks, Restaurant in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $36,340 a year ($17.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,800 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,560 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is about the same as the Tennessee statewide median of $36,420. There are 7.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,500, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,030 | $13.00 |
| 25th percentile | $30,460 | $14.65 |
| Median | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| 75th percentile | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,560 | $21.43 |
| Average (mean) | $35,500 | $17.07 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,028.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,514.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,397.69 |
| Weekly | $698.85 |
| Hourly | $17.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,170 | 10,420 |
| Knoxville, TN | $36,520 | 3,820 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 320 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 490 |
| Cleveland, TN | $35,030 | 340 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,620 | 780 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,600 | 1,020 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $33,730 | 2,940 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $30,690 | 3,560 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30,590 | 2,520 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $30,190 | 540 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $29,490 | 640 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $29,370 | 850 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $29,360 | 610 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $29,260 | 690 |
| Jackson, MS | $29,260 | 2,280 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,290 | $13.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,230 | $13.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,880 | $14.37 |
| Cooks, All Other | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,490 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,550 | $11.80 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,620 | $19.05 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,610 | $13.27 |
| Bartender | $28,710 | $13.80 |
| Dishwasher | $29,700 | $14.28 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,080 | $14.94 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,230 | $31.84 |
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 35-2014. 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 cooks, restaurant make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $36,340 a year, or $17.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $44,560 a year. The top 25% earn $38,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,030 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,460 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 4,800 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.