Cooks, Restaurant salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $38,170 a year ($18.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 10,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,180 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $36,420. There are 9.5 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| 25th percentile | $35,560 | $17.10 |
| Median | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| 75th percentile | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Average (mean) | $39,040 | $18.77 |
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 | $3,180.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,590.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,468.08 |
| Weekly | $734.04 |
| Hourly | $18.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,170 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $36,520 | 3,820 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,340 | 4,800 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,010 | 2,490 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 | 320 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 | 490 |
| 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 |
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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $38,170 a year, or $18.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $47,180 a year. The top 25% earn $44,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,360 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $35,560 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 10,420 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.