Cooks Restaurant Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$27,910
- 25th Percentile — Junior$30,610
- 50th Percentile — Median$36,420
- 75th Percentile — Senior$40,740
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$45,650
Half of Cooks Restaurant in Tennessee earn more than $36,420. The top 10% make $45,650 or more, while entry-level workers start around $27,910.
Cooks Restaurant in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 34th of 51 states for Cooks Restaurant pay, at $36,530 per year (5.7% below the U.S. average of $38,730).
- 28,220 people work as Cooks Restaurant in Tennessee — 2.0% of all U.S. Cooks Restaurant jobs.
- Location quotient 0.95: Cooks Restaurant jobs are less concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,910; the top 10% earn over $45,650.
- Hourly equivalent: $17.56 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Washington at $47,200.
- Among hospitality jobs in Tennessee, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($70,710).
Cooks Restaurant Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Cooks Restaurant here earn $36,530 on average, placing the state 34th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $36,530 is roughly equivalent to $41,511 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Idaho ($36,970), South Dakota ($36,720), North Dakota ($36,690) are the closest alternatives for Cooks Restaurant weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Tennessee
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $70,710/yr Tennessee +93.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $44,720/yr Tennessee +22.4% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $35,260/yr Tennessee 3.5% vs this role
- Bartenders $31,180/yr Tennessee 14.6% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $29,680/yr Tennessee 18.8% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $29,480/yr Tennessee 19.3% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $29,070/yr Tennessee 20.4% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,870/yr Tennessee 23.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cooks Restaurant salary in Tennessee?
The average Cooks Restaurant salary in Tennessee is $36,530 per year (median $36,420), which is 5.7% below the national average of $38,730.
How does Tennessee rank for Cooks Restaurant pay?
Tennessee ranks 34th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($47,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Cooks Restaurant make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cooks Restaurant in Tennessee earn about $27,910 per year and the 25th percentile is $30,610.
How much do Cooks Restaurant make per hour in Tennessee?
About $17.56 per hour, based on the $36,530 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cooks Restaurant work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 28,220 Cooks Restaurant jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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