Cooks, Restaurant salary in Tennessee
Cooks, Restaurant in Tennessee earn a median of $36,420 a year ($17.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,220 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,650 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $37,390. Tennessee ranks 34th of 51 states for cooks, restaurant pay. There are 8.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,910 | $13.42 |
| 25th percentile | $30,610 | $14.72 |
| Median | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| 75th percentile | $40,740 | $19.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,650 | $21.95 |
| Average (mean) | $36,530 | $17.56 |
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 | $3,035 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,517.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,400.77 |
| Weekly | $700.38 |
| Hourly | $17.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in cities in Tennessee
| 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 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 490 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| Cooks, All Other | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,470 | $13.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $27,760 | $13.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,470 | $14.17 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,490 | $13.22 |
| Bartender | $27,480 | $13.21 |
| Dishwasher | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,810 | $33.56 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in Tennessee is $36,420 a year, or $17.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in Tennessee earn at least $45,650 a year. The top 25% earn $40,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,910 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,610 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Tennessee?
About 28,220 cooks, restaurant are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.