Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $70,420 a year ($33.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,900 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 1% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $69,810. There are 1.6 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $75,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,960 | $26.91 |
| 25th percentile | $58,220 | $27.99 |
| Median | $70,420 | $33.86 |
| 75th percentile | $83,010 | $39.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,900 | $50.91 |
| Average (mean) | $75,580 | $36.34 |
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 | $5,868.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,934.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,708.46 |
| Weekly | $1,354.23 |
| Hourly | $33.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,420 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,880 | 100 |
| Johnson City, TN | $59,990 | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $55,360 | 100 |
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,150 | $14.02 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| Bartender | $28,190 | $13.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,800 | $13.85 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,520 | $14.19 |
| Dishwasher | $34,380 | $16.53 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,830 | $16.27 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,830 | $18.19 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $70,420 a year, or $33.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $105,900 a year. The top 25% earn $83,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,960 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $58,220 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 1,780 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.