Cooks, Restaurant salary in Jackson, TN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Jackson, TN metro area earn a median of $35,490 a year ($17.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 490 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,590 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 3% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $36,420. There are 5.8 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $34,580, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Jackson, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,450 | $13.20 |
| 25th percentile | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Median | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| 75th percentile | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| Average (mean) | $34,580 | $16.63 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,957.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,478.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,365 |
| Weekly | $682.50 |
| Hourly | $17.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,170 | 10,420 |
| Knoxville, TN | $36,520 | 3,820 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 320 |
| Cleveland, TN | $35,030 | 340 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,620 | 780 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,600 | 1,020 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Jackson, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $26,970 | $12.97 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,110 | $16.88 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,430 | $12.71 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,360 | $12.67 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $20,490 | $9.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $36,660 | $17.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $24,850 | $11.95 |
| Bartender | $22,030 | $10.59 |
| Dishwasher | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,950 | $13.44 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,280 | $33.31 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Jackson, TN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Jackson, TN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Jackson, TN metro area is $35,490 a year, or $17.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Jackson, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Jackson, TN metro area earn at least $43,590 a year. The top 25% earn $37,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Jackson, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,450 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,520 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Jackson, TN?
About 490 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Jackson, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.