Memphis Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Memphis, TN: $22.54/hr median hourly wage, $46,890 median annual salary, cost of living index 86, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Tennessee taxes.
Memphis Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Memphis, TN is $22.54/hr,and the median annual wage is $46,890. Entry-level pay estimates around $13.97/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $32.01/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area (611,670 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Memphis shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$46,890
$22.54/hr
Cost of Living
86
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
4.2%
rate
Memphis, TN Overview
Population
633,104
Median Salary
$46,890
Average Salary
$60,240
Avg Commute
24 min
Median Home Price
$170,000
Median Rent
$1,000/mo
Job Growth
+1%
Sales Tax
9.75%
Memphis is located in Tennessee with a population of 633,104. The median annual wage across all occupations is $46,890 ($22.54/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro), which is $4,090 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 24 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1%.
Memphis Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Memphis, TN built around the $46,890 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $29,072 | $13.97/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $46,890 | $22.54/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $66,584 | $32.01/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $83,464 | $40.12/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Memphis Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Memphis, TN, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,856
$3,321.34/month · $1,532.93/biweekly · Effective Rate: 15.0%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,532.93 take-home per paycheck after estimated Tennessee and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$46,890
Federal Tax
-$3,447
State Tax
$0
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,587
Net Pay
$39,856
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,907.50 | $46,890.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$287.23 | -$3,446.80 |
| Tennessee State Tax (0.00% eff.) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$242.27 | -$2,907.18 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$56.66 | -$679.91 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,321.34 | $39,856.12 |
Salary Comparison: Memphis vs Other Cities
See how Memphis's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $46,890 | 86 | $54,523 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Southaven, MS | $46,890 | 88 | $53,284 |
| Bartlett, TN | $46,890 | 97.1 | $48,290 |
| Collierville, TN | $46,890 | 86.1 | $54,460 |
| Olive Branch, MS | $46,890 | 90.2 | $51,984 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Memphis
Memphis's cost of living index is 86 (national average = 100). Living in Memphis is 14% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$170,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Annual Rent Cost
$12,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,856 annual take-home pay in Memphis has the purchasing power of approximately $46,344 in an average-cost US area. Your $46,890 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Memphis
Memphis's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $46,890.
Salary Tips for Memphis Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Memphis has a cost of living 14% below the national average. A salary of $46,890 here has the purchasing power of about $54,523 in an average-cost area.
- No state income tax advantage. Tennessee has no state income tax, which means more of your paycheck stays in your pocket. Invest the savings in a Roth IRA or 401(k) for long-term growth.
- Research top industries. Memphis's top industries include Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $46,890 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Memphis, TN
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Memphis. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (78 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Memphis's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in Tennessee
Morristown
Mount Juliet
Murfreesboro
Nashville
Oak Ridge
Smyrna
Spring Hill
Bartlett
Brentwood
Chattanooga
Clarksville
Cleveland
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Memphis salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Memphis indexed at 86.
- Median salary: $46,890 annual, $22.54 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA (611,670 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $60,240 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Memphis was $52,000.
- Tax burden reflects Tennessee 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 0%) (no local income tax), sales tax (9.75%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Memphis: 4.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Tennessee.
- Housing context: median home price $170,000, median rent $1,000/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Memphis, TN:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Memphis unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Memphis QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Tennessee, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Memphis's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Tennessee labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Memphis, TN?
The median hourly wage in Memphis, TN is $22.54 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $46,890. Entry-level workers are estimated around $13.97/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $32.01/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Memphis, TN?
The median salary in Memphis, TN is $46,890 per year, or $22.54 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area). The BLS mean salary is $60,240. This is $4,090 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Memphis, TN?
Memphis's cost of living index is 86 (national average = 100), meaning it is 14% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $170,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,000.
What are the best industries in Memphis?
The top industries in Memphis, TN include Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing. The city has a job growth rate of 1% and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $46,890.
How does Memphis's salary compare to other cities?
Memphis's median salary of $46,890 is 8.0% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 86), the real purchasing power is approximately $54,523.
What is the minimum wage in Memphis, TN?
The minimum wage in Memphis, TN is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.