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The Indeed Flex Career Hub is provided for general informational purposes only. Content is AI-assisted, compiled from publicly available sources, and may be out of date or contain errors. Nothing on this site constitutes professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. Always verify pay, tax, and benefit figures with the original source or a qualified professional before relying on them.

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  1. Career Hub
  2. Career Hub
  3. Cities
  4. Memphis
  5. Entry Level Cook
ByLocal Market Research Team
Reviewed by Indeed Flex Editorial Board
Updated January 15, 2026
Hospitality
Memphis, TN

Entry Level Cook Jobs in Memphis

Temp and flexible entry level cook positions in Memphis pay $14.00-$16.34/hr — 8% below the national average, with a cost of living 14% below the U.S. baseline.

$14-$16

Per Hour

$607

Weekly (40hrs)

86

Cost Index

CST

Time Zone

Find Entry Level Cook ShiftsCalculate Earnings
Quick Facts

Top Industries in Memphis

Logistics
Healthcare
Hospitality
Manufacturing

Monthly Costs

1-Bed Rent$1000
Groceries$290
Transport$70
More about Memphis

About Entry Level Cook Jobs in Memphis

Entry Level Cooks in Memphis earn $14.00-$16.34/hr, below the national average.

An Entry Level Cook learns the foundations of professional cooking while assisting line cooks and prep cooks during service. You handle basic food prep, follow recipes, run plates to the pass, and pick up technique on the job - the standard starting point for a US kitchen career.

Most entry level cook positions in Memphis are available as temporary, part-time, or flexible shifts.

Entry Level Cook Pay: Memphis vs Nearby Cities

CityHourly PayCost of Living1-Bed Rent
Memphis, TN$14–$16/hr86$1,000
Dallas, TX$14–$18/hr93$1,450
Austin, TX$14–$20/hr103$1,600
Fort Worth, TX$14–$18/hr93$1,250
Houston, TX$14–$17/hr91$1,300
Worker Proprietary Metric

Worker Affordability Score

Calculated for Entry Level Cook in Memphis

2.4x
Tight Budget
66
Hours to pay rent
41%
Rent / gross income
533
Monthly disposable
21% more affordable than US national average

Data based on BLS OEWS wage data and HUD 2024 fair market rents.

What You’ll Actually Earn in Memphis

Monthly Income (40 hrs/wk)
Gross monthly$2,627
Est. taxes (~22%)-$578
Take-home$2,049
After Essential Costs
1-Bed Rent$1,000
Groceries + transport$360
Remaining$689

Based on avg Entry Level Cook rate of $15.17/hr at 40 hrs/wk.

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage and operate assigned kitchen station
  • Prepare dishes according to specifications
  • Train and supervise commis chefs
  • Maintain cleanliness and organization
  • Ensure food safety standards

Skills & Requirements

Key Skills
Basic knife skills
Recipe following
Food safety
Time management
Food safety
Leadership
Requirements
  • Culinary training or equivalent experience
  • 2+ years kitchen experience
  • Food handler certification
  • Strong knowledge of cooking techniques

Earnings Calculator for Memphis

Calculate Your Entry Level Cook Earningsin Memphis
$15/hr
$14/hr$16.34/hr
25 hr
5 hr (Part-time)50 hr (Full-time+)
Weekly
$525
Monthly
$2,273
Yearly
$27,300

Includes ~$150/week in estimated tips

Open Full Pay Calculator

Career Path from Entry Level Cook

Commis Chef

0-2 years

Chef de Partie

2-4 years

Sous Chef

4-7 years

Head Chef

7+ years

FAQs: Entry Level Cook Jobs in Memphis

Start Earning Today

Join thousands of entry level cooks in Memphis earning on their own schedule

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Related Roles in Memphis
Barback$12-$18/hrBarista$13-$19/hrBartender$15-$25/hrServer$12-$20/hrChef de Partie$17-$26/hrView all roles in Memphis →
Entry Level Cook in Nearby Cities
Dallas, TXAustin, TXFort Worth, TXHouston, TXSan Antonio, TXBrowse all cities →
Helpful Tools
Pay CalculatorCost of Living ComparisonShift PlannerEntry Level Cook Career Guide

Explore More Opportunities

More Jobs in Memphis

  • Barback in Memphis
  • Barista in Memphis
  • Bartender in Memphis
  • Server in Memphis
  • Chef de Partie in Memphis
  • Commis Chef in Memphis

Entry Level Cook in Other Cities

  • Entry Level Cook in Philadelphia, PA
  • Entry Level Cook in Charlotte, NC
  • Entry Level Cook in Las Vegas, NV
  • Entry Level Cook in Dallas, TX
  • Entry Level Cook in Columbus, OH
  • Entry Level Cook in Phoenix, AZ

Related Resources

  • Hospitality Industry Guide
  • Complete Entry Level Cook Career Guide
  • Getting Started Guides
  • Financial Tips for Flex Workers

Data Sources & Methodology

The information on this page is compiled from the following sources:

  1. [1]
    BLS QCEW — Employment and wage data at state and county level by industry.Visit
  2. [2]
    BLS CES — Monthly survey of ~670,000 worksites providing industry-level employment and earnings data.Visit
  3. [3]
    Census ACS — Demographic, economic, and housing data for communities.Visit
  4. [4]
    Indeed Hiring Lab — Monthly posted-wage data by job title from Indeed job listings.Visit
  5. [5]
    MWPVL — Comprehensive database of distribution center and warehouse locations.Visit
  6. [6]
    DOL/State Labor Depts — Minimum wage rates, tip credits, licensing requirements, and regulations by state.Visit

Data Freshness

CategoryCost of Living
Last Updated2026-01-15
Next Update2027-01-15

We strive to keep all data accurate and up-to-date. Pay rates may vary based on location, experience, and employer.

About this data

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may be out of date. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. For the most current pay rates, verify with the original source, a qualified professional, or check the Indeed Flex app directly for real-time shift availability and compensation.

Explore Jobs in Memphis

Find opportunities and compare costs

Top Jobs in This City
  • Server Jobs in Memphis$12-$20/hr
  • Chef de Partie Jobs in Memphis$17-$26/hr
  • Housekeeper Jobs in Memphis$14-$19/hr
  • Dishwasher Jobs in Memphis$12-$17/hr
  • Host / Hostess Jobs in Memphis$12-$18/hr
  • Food Runner Jobs in Memphis$12-$17/hr
Compare Living Costs
  • Cost of Living CalculatorSee expenses in Memphis
Nearby Cities
  • Philadelphia, PA$14-$22/hr avg
  • Charlotte, NC$14-$21/hr avg
  • Las Vegas, NV$14-$24/hr avg
  • Dallas, TX$14-$23/hr avg

Popular Searches

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