Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

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

Median annual salary $30,330 -16.8% vs national
Median hourly $14.58
10th percentile $23,590
90th percentile $43,230
Employed locally 1,590
National median $36,450

Compare Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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, Institution and Cafeteria
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $23,590
    25th
    $28,350
    50th (median)
    $30,330
    75th
    $36,500
    90th
    $43,230

    Memphis economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,743 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary is 53% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $54,840
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,290
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $50,150
    Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,850
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,940
    Washington $48,260

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $36,080
    Jackson, TN $32,010
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $31,870
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $31,600
    Knoxville, TN $31,050
    Clarksville, TN-KY $30,300

    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 Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria make per hour in Memphis?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is $14.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.09 or more per hour.

    Is Memphis above or below average for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salaries?

    The median Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Memphis, TN-MS-AR is 16.8% below the national median of $36,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Memphis?

    Entry-level Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria (10th percentile) earn around $23,590 per year in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $28,350.