Cooks, Short Order salary in Tennessee
Cooks, Short Order in Tennessee earn a median of $30,210 a year ($14.52 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,240 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $35,880. Tennessee ranks 37th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.77 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,880 | $11.00 |
| 25th percentile | $26,780 | $12.88 |
| Median | $30,210 | $14.52 |
| 75th percentile | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,240 | $18.86 |
| Average (mean) | $31,620 | $15.20 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,517.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,258.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,161.92 |
| Weekly | $580.96 |
| Hourly | $14.52 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,830 | 600 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,510 | 120 |
| Knoxville, TN | $30,210 | 320 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,950 | 200 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $29,880 | 590 |
| Johnson City, TN | $29,460 | 80 |
| Cleveland, TN | $28,660 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $28,700 | $13.80 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,330 | $13.62 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Tennessee?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Tennessee is $30,210 a year, or $14.52 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Tennessee earn at least $39,240 a year. The top 25% earn $36,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,880 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $26,780 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Tennessee?
About 2,510 cooks, short order are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.