How much does a cook make in Nashville?
$34,210a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area. That is $16.45 an hour or $2,851 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.45
- Vs. national median
- +11%
- Rank among cities
- 73 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 4,840
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,340Median: $34,210Highest 10%: $38,740
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,340 | $10.74 | |
| 25th | $28,340 | $13.63 | |
| Median | $34,210 | $16.45 | |
| 75th | $37,670 | $18.11 | |
| 90th | $38,740 | $18.63 |
Other cities in Tennessee
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Knoxville, TN | $27,580 |
| Morristown, TN | $27,310 |
| Memphis, TN | $27,230 |
| Kingsport, TN | $26,930 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $26,890 |
| Jackson, TN | $26,430 |
| Johnson City, TN | $26,430 |
| Clarksville, TN | $26,420 |
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 |
| 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 $16.45 ($34,210 a year).
Do cooks make more in Nashville than the national average?
Yes: $34,210 against $30,890 nationally, 11% more.
How does Nashville compare with the rest of Tennessee?
The median in Tennessee is $28,330, so Nashville pays 21% more.
Where does Nashville rank for cook pay?
73 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,340 or less a year; the top 10% make $38,740 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.