Data Entry Specialist salary in Memphis, TN-MS
Memphis pays data entry specialists close to the national norm. The median is $41,270 a year1, 1.9% above the Tennessee statewide median of $40,490 and about level with the US median of $41,340. Nationally it ranks #133 of 394 areas. BLS counts about 550 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-9021, area Memphis, TN-MS-AR. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Memphis against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS | $30,520 | $41,270 | $57,210 | |
| Tennessee | $29,940 | $40,490 | $57,310 | |
| United States | $31,200 | $41,340 | $58,790 |
The middle half of data entry specialists in Memphis earns $35,010–$47,240. The top tenth earns $57,210 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.9 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $12,230 wide, against $12,710 across Tennessee and $12,650 nationally: employers in Memphis pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a data entry specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,520 | $2,543 | $14.67 | $39,381 |
| 25th percentile | $35,010 | $2,918 | $16.83 | $45,174 |
| Median | $41,270 | $3,439 | $19.84 | $53,252 |
| 75th percentile | $47,240 | $3,937 | $22.71 | $60,955 |
| 90th percentile | $57,210 | $4,768 | $27.50 | $73,819 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,260 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,970, or about $7,703 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $41,340 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Memphis, and the Tennessee statewide median of $40,490 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Memphis
At the $41,270 median, a local hire costs about $53,252 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,982 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for data entry specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Memphis
Of the 17 roles we track in Memphis, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($44,090) and e-commerce order specialists ($40,770). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,130.
| Role | Median | vs data entry specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +11.4% | 5,500 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +6.8% | 9,360 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | this role | 550 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.2% | 540 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.2% | 7,180 |
Measured against the US median, data entry specialists rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Memphis (-0.2%), between office managers (+2.6%) and customer support specialists (-1.5%). The typical role here is at -8.9%, so, measured against the US, data entry specialists cost more in Memphis than the area's general pay level would suggest. Data entry specialists hold 0.9% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Memphis, 0.7% across Tennessee and 0.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Tennessee
Across the 13 areas of Tennessee with data for this job, the median runs from $34,680 in the East Tennessee nonmetro area to $44,490 in Nashville-Murfreesboro, a gap of $9,810 a year. The one area in Tennessee with more data entry specialists, Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN ($44,490), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Memphis | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | +7.8% | 760 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | this area | 550 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -4.4% | 120 | |
| Knoxville, TN | -5.5% | 340 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | -8.2% | 40 | |
| South Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -8.5% | 50 | |
| Morristown, TN | -10.4% | 30 |
Memphis against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Memphis is #40 of 389 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Tennessee, Philadelphia-Camden and Longview pay just above Memphis and Buffalo-Cheektowaga and Cleveland just below. All four are within $280 a year of the median in Memphis. Of the three markets with about as many data entry specialists, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Memphis | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | +10.5% | 520 | jobs | |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | +0.8% | 540 | jobs | |
| Longview, TX | +0.1% | 120 | pay | |
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +0.0% | 2,340 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | this area | 550 | ||
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | -0.4% | 410 | pay | |
| Cleveland, OH | -0.7% | 900 | pay | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -4.2% | 530 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a data entry specialist in Memphis, TN-MS?
About $53,252 a year at the median, or $4,438 a month: $41,270 in pay plus about $11,982 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do data entry specialists earn in Memphis?
The median was $41,270 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,520, the 90th $57,210, and the middle half earned $35,010 to $47,240.
Is Memphis cheaper than the rest of Tennessee for data entry specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $41,270 against $40,490 statewide. The next area up in Tennessee is Nashville-Murfreesboro at $44,490, the next down Chattanooga at $39,450.
How many data entry specialists work in Memphis?
BLS counts about 550 in the May 2025 survey. Only Nashville-Murfreesboro has more in Tennessee.
Does a data entry specialist cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Memphis?
Yes: $500 a year more at the median. The medians are $41,270 and $40,770.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.