Cooks, Fast Food salary in Clarksville, TN-KY
Cooks, Fast Food in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn a median of $26,420 a year ($12.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 910 workers.
Pay ranges from $20,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,850 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 7% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $28,330. There are 8.8 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $26,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Clarksville, TN-KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $20,890 | $10.04 |
| 25th percentile | $21,790 | $10.48 |
| Median | $26,420 | $12.70 |
| 75th percentile | $29,440 | $14.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| Average (mean) | $26,710 | $12.84 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,201.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,100.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,016.15 |
| Weekly | $508.08 |
| Hourly | $12.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $26,420 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,210 | 4,840 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $28,930 | 4,930 |
| Knoxville, TN | $27,580 | 2,120 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 | 240 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $26,990 | 5,060 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,930 | 720 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $26,890 | 940 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $26,840 | 3,040 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,430 | 400 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,430 | 570 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $23,870 | 660 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $23,450 | 820 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22,610 | 3,070 |
| Owensboro, KY | $22,260 | 620 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Clarksville, TN-KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $27,030 | $12.99 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $30,170 | $14.50 |
| Cooks, All Other | $34,820 | $16.74 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,990 | $12.97 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,790 | $10.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,950 | $18.24 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,880 | $29.27 |
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 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Clarksville, TN-KY?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area is $26,420 a year, or $12.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $20,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $34,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Clarksville, TN-KY?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn at least $34,850 a year. The top 25% earn $29,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Clarksville, TN-KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $20,890 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $21,790 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Clarksville, TN-KY?
About 910 cooks, fast food are employed in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.