Cooks, Fast Food pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,030 or more. The middle half of cooks, fast food in Memphis earn between $22,930 and $29,140.
- $22K10th
- $23K25th
- $27KMedian
- $29K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $27,550 | $2,296 | $13.25 |
| Median | $27,230 | $2,269 | $13.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $22,930 | $1,911 | $11.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $29,140 | $2,428 | $14.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Cooks, fast food in Memphis earn 7% less than the Tennessee average ($29,480) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($32,390). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $30,890.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $27,550 | $27,230 | $22,040 | $35,030 | 2,270 |
| Tennessee | $29,480 | $28,330 | $20,380 | $38,330 | 14,020 |
| United States | $32,390 | $30,890 | $22,580 | $42,910 | 641,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Fast Food salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $27,550, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $24,297 a year, or $2,025 a month and $935 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $24,297 | $2,025 |
| Working in MS | $23,927 | $1,994 |
| Working in AR | $23,761 | $1,980 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for cooks, fast food? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $27,550 buys what about $29,888 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($32,970).
- Nashville$32,970
- Knoxville$28,980
- Kingsport$28,270
- Memphis$27,550
- Morristown$26,870
- Chattanooga$26,840
- Clarksville$26,710
- Johnson City$26,420
- Jackson$26,170
Highest-paying cities for cooks, fast food
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($46,590).
- San Francisco, CA$46,590
- San Jose, CA$46,530
- Vallejo, CA$44,360
- Napa, CA$43,910
- Seattle, WA$43,770
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Cooks, Fast Food salary in Memphis: questions
How much do cooks, fast food make an hour in Memphis?
$13.24 an hour on average, and $13.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, fast food salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $22,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $22,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, fast food take-home pay in Memphis?
About $24,297 a year ($2,025 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $27,550. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do cooks, fast food earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($32,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2011; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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