Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Memphis, TN-MS-AR

Median annual salary $60,220 -1.3% vs national
Median hourly $28.95
10th percentile $39,210
90th percentile $87,720
Employed locally 430
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Memphis, TN-MS-AR stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Chefs and Head Cooks
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,210
    25th
    $46,290
    50th (median)
    $60,220
    75th
    $76,330
    90th
    $87,720

    Memphis economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,743 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 93% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 7% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $63,810
    Cleveland, TN $62,180
    Morristown, TN $61,290
    Knoxville, TN $55,650
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $52,990
    Jackson, TN $51,400

    Related occupations in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,730
    Waiters and Waitresses$24,780
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,490
    Cooks, Restaurant$34,560
    Food Preparation Workers$27,430
    Cooks, Fast Food$26,520

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Memphis?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $28.95, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.15 or more per hour.

    Is Memphis above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is 1.3% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Memphis?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $39,210 per year in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,290.