Cooks, Short Order Salary in Memphis, TN
Cooks, Short Order in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $29,880 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,189 take-home, or $2,182 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,406
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,853
- Medicare (1.45%)$433
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,189
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,240 | $11.65 | $21,572 | $1,798 |
| 25th percentile | $27,920 | $13.42 | $24,602 | $2,050 |
| Median (50th) | $29,880 | $14.37 | $26,189 | $2,182 |
| 75th percentile | $34,680 | $16.67 | $30,045 | $2,504 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,460 | $18.01 | $32,279 | $2,690 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,880 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, short order's $26,189 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,411 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Short Order jobs are about as common in Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #29 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,870 | $43,054 | $38,741 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $44,050 | $36,539 | $35,903 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $46,450 | $38,051 | $35,303 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $44,200 | $36,458 | $34,466 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $45,990 | $37,706 | $34,147 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $35,570 | $30,760 | $33,940 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $38,490 | $32,235 | $33,900 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $33,815 |
| 29 | Memphis, TN | $29,880 | $26,189 | $28,411 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Cooks, Short Order salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $37,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Memphis, TN?
The median cooks, short order salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $29,880 a year, or about $14.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,920 and $34,680.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $29,880 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $26,189 a year ($2,182 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,411 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #29 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Chef and Head Cook — $66,230
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,620
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $38,530
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,340
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,740
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,170
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,080
- Dishwasher — $29,700
- Bartender — $28,710
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,610
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,490
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,290