SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Tennessee
Tennessee · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee is $69,810 per year, 11.7% above the national median of $62,470.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee is $69,810 per year, 11.7% above the national median of $62,470. Half of workers earn between $57,470 and $81,900. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $45,410 and the ninetieth at $98,860.
The area has 3,820 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.2 of every thousand jobs. Tennessee ranks number 10th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $70,420. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 226th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,410 | −27.3% |
| 25th | $57,470 | −8.0% |
| Median (50th) | $69,810 | +11.7% |
| 75th | $81,900 | +31.1% |
| 90th | $98,860 | +58.3% |
| Mean | $70,710 | +13.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $70,420 | 1,780 | |
| 2 | Jackson | $69,280 | 60 | |
| 3 | Memphis | $66,230 | 540 | |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $63,690 | 280 | |
| 5 | Knoxville | $62,770 | 470 | |
| 6 | Cleveland | $62,180 | 30 | |
| 7 | Morristown | $61,290 | 30 | |
| 8 | Clarksville | $60,880 | 100 | |
| 9 | Johnson City | $59,990 | 100 | |
| 10 | Kingsport | $55,360 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $69,810 goes as far as $75,963 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$69,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$75,963US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $69,810 a year, 11.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,410 to $98,860 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,820 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 10th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $70,420.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $69,810, or $33.56 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Tennessee is 11.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $98,860 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,410 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $70,420 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,820 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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