Restaurant Cook Salary in Nashville, TN
Updated
The median restaurant cook in the Nashville area earns $38,170 a year ($18.35 an hour), 2% above the U.S. median ($37,390) and 5% above the Tennessee median ($36,420). Half of the 10,420 restaurant cooks there earn between $35,560 and $44,660.
Median $38,170
10th: $29,36090th: $47,180
| Annual pay | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,360 | $27,910 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $35,560 | $30,610 | $34,010 |
| Median | $38,170 | $36,420 | $37,390 |
| 75th percentile | $44,660 | $40,740 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $47,180 | $45,650 | $47,900 |
| Average | $39,040 | $36,530 | $38,730 |
| Jobs | 10,420 | 28,220 | 1,409,890 |
Nashville, TN ranks 19th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for restaurant cook pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,730).
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Check my payRestaurant cook pay in other cities
- Memphis, TN: $36,340
- Seattle, WA: $47,730
- San Jose, CA: $47,170
- San Diego, CA: $46,440
- San Francisco, CA: $46,030
- Boston, MA: $45,830
- Portland, OR: $45,200
- Los Angeles, CA: $44,460
- All cities
Similar jobs in Nashville, TN
- Food Preparation Worker: $34,640
- Fast Food Worker: $29,150
- Waiter: $29,390
- Food Service Supervisor: $45,630
- Bartender: $28,190
- All jobs in Nashville, TN
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.