How much does a cook make in Chattanooga?
$26,890a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area. That is $12.93 an hour or $2,241 a month.
- Hourly
- $12.93
- Vs. national median
- -13%
- Rank among cities
- 237 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 940
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $18,980Median: $26,890Highest 10%: $35,420
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18,980 | $9.13 | |
| 25th | $21,420 | $10.30 | |
| Median | $26,890 | $12.93 | |
| 75th | $29,070 | $13.98 | |
| 90th | $35,420 | $17.03 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Nashville, TN | $34,210 |
| Knoxville, TN | $27,580 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 |
| Memphis, TN | $27,230 |
| Kingsport, TN | $26,930 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,430 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,430 |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,420 |
Related jobs in Chattanooga
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $63,690 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $39,220 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $37,410 |
| Cook | $36,010 |
| Cook | $35,990 |
| Cook | $33,410 |
| Food Server | $30,740 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,300 |
| Cook | $29,950 |
| Dishwasher | $29,430 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make an hour in Chattanooga?
The median hourly pay in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $12.93 ($26,890 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chattanooga than the national average?
No: $26,890 against $30,890 nationally, 13% less.
How does Chattanooga compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $28,330, so Chattanooga pays 5% less.
Where does Chattanooga rank for cook pay?
237 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% make $18,980 or less a year; the top 10% make $35,420 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.