How much does a cook make in Nashville?
$33,220a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $15.97 an hour or $2,768 a month.
- Hourly
- $15.97
- Vs. national median
- -12%
- Rank among cities
- 46 of 63
- Jobs in the area
- 700
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,030Median: $33,220Highest 10%: $41,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,030 | $10.59 | |
| 25th | $22,030 | $10.59 | |
| Median | $33,220 | $15.97 | |
| 75th | $37,440 | $18.00 | |
| 90th | $41,600 | $20.00 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Memphis, TN | $38,950 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $35,990 |
| Knoxville, TN | $35,120 |
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 | $37,910 |
| Cook | $37,830 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,640 |
| Dishwasher | $34,380 |
| Cook | $34,210 |
| Food Server | $33,830 |
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 $15.97 ($33,220 a year).
Do cooks make more in Nashville than the national average?
No: $33,220 against $37,690 nationally, 12% less.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $36,440, so Nashville pays 9% less.
Where does Nashville rank for cook pay?
46 of 63 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,030 or less a year; the top 10% make $41,600 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.