Cooks, Restaurant pay in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.51 an hour ($36,420 a year). About 28,220 people work in this job there.
That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). Tennessee ranks 34th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Tennessee
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $13.42 | $27,910 |
| 25% of workers | $14.72 | $30,610 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.51 | $36,420 |
| 75% of workers | $19.59 | $40,740 |
| 90% of workers | $21.95 | $45,650 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Tennessee metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $38,170 | 10,420 |
| Knoxville | $36,520 | 3,820 |
| Memphis | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Chattanooga | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Morristown | $35,670 | 320 |
| Jackson | $35,490 | 490 |
| Cleveland | $35,030 | 340 |
| Clarksville | $34,840 | 880 |
| Johnson City | $34,620 | 780 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $34,600 | 1,020 |
Tennessee unemployment rate: 3.4% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $28,700 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $28,330 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 |
| Bakers | $34,440 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,810 |
| Food Batchmakers | $42,610 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,960 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,210 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.