How much does a chef and head cook make in Nashville?
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $33.86 an hour or $5,868 a month.
- Hourly
- $33.86
- Vs. national median
- +13%
- Rank among cities
- 32 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 1,780
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,960 | $26.90 | |
| 25th | $58,220 | $27.99 | |
| Median | $70,420 | $33.86 | |
| 75th | $83,010 | $39.91 | |
| 90th | $105,900 | $50.91 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| Jackson, TN | $69,280 |
| Memphis, TN | $66,230 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $63,690 |
| Knoxville, TN | $62,770 |
| Clarksville, TN | $60,880 |
| Johnson City, TN | $59,990 |
| Kingsport, TN | $55,360 |
Related jobs in Nashville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,630 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $40,370 |
| Cook | $38,170 |
| Cook | $37,910 |
| Cook | $37,830 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 |
| Dishwasher | $34,380 |
| Cook | $34,210 |
| Food Server | $33,830 |
| Cook | $33,220 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Nashville?
The median hourly pay in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $33.86 ($70,420 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Nashville than the national average?
Yes: $70,420 against $62,470 nationally, 13% more.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $69,810, so Nashville pays 1% more.
Where does Nashville rank for chef and head cook pay?
32 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $55,960 or less a year; the top 10% make $105,900 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.