How much does a cook make in Nashville?
$37,910a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $18.23 an hour or $3,159 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.23
- Vs. national median
- +1%
- Rank among cities
- 140 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 2,880
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $30,540Median: $37,910Highest 10%: $47,310
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,540 | $14.68 | |
| 25th | $35,560 | $17.10 | |
| Median | $37,910 | $18.23 | |
| 75th | $43,580 | $20.95 | |
| 90th | $47,310 | $22.75 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Clarksville, TN | $35,570 |
| Kingsport, TN | $35,210 |
| Knoxville, TN | $35,150 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,110 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $33,410 |
| Memphis, TN | $33,170 |
| Cleveland, TN | $32,220 |
| Johnson City, TN | $31,330 |
| Morristown, TN | $30,080 |
Related jobs in Nashville
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $70,420 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $45,630 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $40,370 |
| Cook | $38,170 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Nashville?
The median hourly pay in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $18.23 ($37,910 a year).
Do cooks make more in Nashville than the national average?
Yes: $37,910 against $37,450 nationally, 1% more.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $35,570, so Nashville pays 7% more.
Where does Nashville rank for cook pay?
140 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $30,540 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,310 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.