Cooks, Short Order salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Cooks, Short Order in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $37,830 a year ($18.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 600 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,060 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 25% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $30,210. There are 0.55 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $36,390, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,760 | $12.39 |
| 25th percentile | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Median | $37,830 | $18.19 |
| 75th percentile | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,060 | $21.18 |
| Average (mean) | $36,390 | $17.50 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $3,152.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,576.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,455 |
| Weekly | $727.50 |
| Hourly | $18.19 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $37,830 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, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,510 | 120 |
| Knoxville, TN | $30,210 | 320 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $30,170 | 100 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,950 | 200 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $29,880 | 590 |
| Johnson City, TN | $29,460 | 80 |
| Cleveland, TN | $28,660 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order 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, Fast Food | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Cooks, All Other | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $37,830 a year, or $18.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $44,060 a year. The top 25% earn $39,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,760 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $31,300 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 600 cooks, short order are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.