Cooks, Restaurant salary in Clarksville, TN-KY
Cooks, Restaurant in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn a median of $34,840 a year ($16.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 880 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,660 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 4% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $36,420. There are 8.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,520, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Clarksville, TN-KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,360 | $11.23 |
| 25th percentile | $28,480 | $13.69 |
| Median | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| 75th percentile | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Average (mean) | $33,520 | $16.12 |
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 | $2,903.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,451.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,340 |
| Weekly | $670 |
| Hourly | $16.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,840 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 |
| Knoxville, TN | $36,520 | 3,820 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,970 | 2,300 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 320 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 490 |
| Cleveland, TN | $35,030 | 340 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,620 | 780 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,600 | 1,020 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 | 570 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 | 370 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 | 440 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 1,090 |
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 Clarksville, TN-KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,420 | $12.70 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Clarksville, TN-KY?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area is $34,840 a year, or $16.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $39,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Clarksville, TN-KY?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area earn at least $39,660 a year. The top 25% earn $37,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Clarksville, TN-KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,360 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $28,480 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Clarksville, TN-KY?
About 880 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Clarksville, TN-KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.