Cooks, Fast Food salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Cooks, Fast Food in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $34,210 a year ($16.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,740 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 21% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $28,330. There are 4.4 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,970, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,340 | $10.74 |
| 25th percentile | $28,340 | $13.62 |
| Median | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| 75th percentile | $37,670 | $18.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,740 | $18.63 |
| Average (mean) | $32,970 | $15.85 |
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 | $2,850.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,425.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,315.77 |
| Weekly | $657.88 |
| Hourly | $16.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,210 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $27,580 | 2,120 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 | 240 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,230 | 2,270 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,930 | 720 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $26,890 | 940 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,430 | 400 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,430 | 570 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $26,420 | 910 |
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,830 | $18.19 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,150 | $14.02 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,390 | $14.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| 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 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $33,830 | $16.27 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $70,420 | $33.86 |
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 35-2011. 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $34,210 a year, or $16.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $38,740 a year. The top 25% earn $37,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,340 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $28,340 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 4,840 cooks, fast food are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.