How much does a cook make in Nashville?
$38,170a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $18.35 an hour or $3,181 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.35
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 88 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 10,420
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $29,360Median: $38,170Highest 10%: $47,180
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,360 | $14.12 | |
| 25th | $35,560 | $17.10 | |
| Median | $38,170 | $18.35 | |
| 75th | $44,660 | $21.47 | |
| 90th | $47,180 | $22.68 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Knoxville, TN | $36,520 |
| Memphis, TN | $36,340 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $36,010 |
| Morristown, TN | $35,670 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,490 |
| Cleveland, TN | $35,030 |
| Clarksville, TN | $34,840 |
| Johnson City, TN | $34,620 |
| Kingsport, TN | $34,600 |
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 | $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 cook make an hour in Nashville?
The median hourly pay in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $18.35 ($38,170 a year).
Do cooks make more in Nashville than the national average?
Yes: $38,170 against $37,390 nationally, 2% more.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $36,420, so Nashville pays 5% more.
Where does Nashville rank for cook pay?
88 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $29,360 or less a year; the top 10% make $47,180 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.