Cooks, Restaurant salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Cooks, Restaurant in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $36,010 a year ($17.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,410 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $36,420. There are 9.3 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,200, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,250 | $13.10 |
| 25th percentile | $29,750 | $14.30 |
| Median | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| 75th percentile | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Average (mean) | $35,200 | $16.92 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,000.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,500.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,385 |
| Weekly | $692.50 |
| Hourly | $17.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,010 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, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,170 | 10,420 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,230 | 29,040 |
| Knoxville, TN | $36,520 | 3,820 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Savannah, GA | $35,940 | 2,570 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 320 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 490 |
| Gainesville, GA | $35,310 | 700 |
| Cleveland, TN | $35,030 | 340 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,620 | 780 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,600 | 1,020 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $34,480 | 760 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $33,990 | 2,200 |
| Rome, GA | $33,620 | 400 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $33,540 | 1,120 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $32,180 | 780 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $31,650 | 970 |
| Dalton, GA | $31,060 | 410 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $30,470 | 1,130 |
| Valdosta, GA | $29,880 | 680 |
| Albany, GA | $29,150 | 470 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 | $14.57 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,890 | $12.93 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $33,410 | $16.06 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,990 | $17.30 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $27,140 | $13.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,240 | $11.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,220 | $18.85 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,750 | $13.34 |
| Bartender | $25,650 | $12.33 |
| Dishwasher | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $37,410 | $17.99 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $30,740 | $14.78 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $36,010 a year, or $17.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $44,410 a year. The top 25% earn $37,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,250 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $29,750 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 2,490 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.