SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Tennessee
Tennessee · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Tennessee is $36,420 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Tennessee is $36,420 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $30,610 and $40,740. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,910 and the ninetieth at $45,650.
The area has 28,220 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 8.6 of every thousand jobs. Tennessee ranks number 34th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $38,170. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 638th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,910 | −25.4% |
| 25th | $30,610 | −18.1% |
| Median (50th) | $36,420 | −2.6% |
| 75th | $40,740 | +9.0% |
| 90th | $45,650 | +22.1% |
| Mean | $36,530 | −2.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $38,170 | 10,420 | |
| 2 | Knoxville | $36,520 | 3,820 | |
| 3 | Memphis | $36,340 | 4,800 | |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $36,010 | 2,490 | |
| 5 | Morristown | $35,670 | 320 | |
| 6 | Jackson | $35,490 | 490 | |
| 7 | Cleveland | $35,030 | 340 | |
| 8 | Clarksville | $34,840 | 880 | |
| 9 | Johnson City | $34,620 | 780 | |
| 10 | Kingsport | $34,600 | 1,020 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $36,420 goes as far as $39,630 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,630US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,420 a year, 2.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,910 to $45,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 28,220 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $38,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $36,420, or $17.51 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 $37,390, so pay in Tennessee is 2.6% lower. 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 $45,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,910 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 $38,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 28,220 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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