Cooks, Short Order salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Cooks, Short Order in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median of $29,880 a year ($14.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,460 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 1% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $30,210. There are 0.97 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,080, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,240 | $11.65 |
| 25th percentile | $27,920 | $13.42 |
| Median | $29,880 | $14.37 |
| 75th percentile | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Average (mean) | $31,080 | $14.94 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,490 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,245 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,149.23 |
| Weekly | $574.62 |
| Hourly | $14.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $29,880 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,830 | 600 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,510 | 120 |
| Knoxville, TN | $30,210 | 320 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,950 | 200 |
| Johnson City, TN | $29,460 | 80 |
| Cleveland, TN | $28,660 | 40 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $28,520 | 420 |
| Jackson, MS | $28,450 | 420 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,990 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,290 | $13.12 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,230 | $13.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,170 | $15.95 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $29,880 a year, or $14.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn at least $37,460 a year. The top 25% earn $34,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,240 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $27,920 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Memphis, TN-MS-AR?
About 590 cooks, short order are employed in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, not counting the self-employed.