Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Clarksville, TN-KY
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn a median of $60,880 a year ($29.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,840 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 13% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $69,810. There are 0.97 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $62,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Clarksville, TN-KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| 25th percentile | $46,910 | $22.55 |
| Median | $60,880 | $29.27 |
| 75th percentile | $75,400 | $36.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,840 | $42.23 |
| Average (mean) | $62,870 | $30.23 |
Half of chefs and head cooks 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 | $5,073.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,536.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,341.54 |
| Weekly | $1,170.77 |
| Hourly | $29.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,880 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $70,420 | 1,780 |
| Jackson, TN | $69,280 | 60 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $66,230 | 540 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $63,690 | 280 |
| Knoxville, TN | $62,770 | 470 |
| Cleveland, TN | $62,180 | 30 |
| Morristown, TN | $61,290 | 30 |
| Johnson City, TN | $59,990 | 100 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $56,790 | 270 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 100 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $54,080 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $53,240 | 80 |
| Owensboro, KY | $47,620 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Clarksville, TN-KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,950 | $18.24 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,990 | $12.97 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,790 | $10.48 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,420 | $12.70 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,030 | $12.99 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Bartender | $24,230 | $11.65 |
| Dishwasher | $28,600 | $13.75 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $25,940 | $12.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $27,510 | $13.23 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, All Other | $34,820 | $16.74 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Clarksville, TN-KY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. 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 chefs and head cooks make in Clarksville, TN-KY?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area is $60,880 a year, or $29.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $87,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Clarksville, TN-KY?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn at least $87,840 a year. The top 25% earn $75,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Clarksville, TN-KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,400 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,910 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Clarksville, TN-KY?
About 100 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.