Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

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

Median annual salary $26,520 -12.1% vs national
Median hourly $12.75
10th percentile $19,060
90th percentile $34,280
Employed locally 2,530
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food 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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Cooks, Fast Food
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $19,060
    25th
    $22,720
    50th (median)
    $26,520
    75th
    $29,560
    90th
    $34,280

    Memphis economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,743 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 41% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 59% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $31,650
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $28,290
    Morristown, TN $27,370
    Jackson, TN $27,250
    Knoxville, TN $26,760
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $26,680

    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
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,390

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Memphis?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $12.75, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.84 or more per hour.

    Is Memphis above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is 12.1% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Memphis?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $19,060 per year in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,720.