Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Nashville, TN
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $37,910 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,641 take-home, or $2,720 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,369
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,350
- Medicare (1.45%)$550
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,641
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,540 | $14.68 | $26,719 | $2,227 |
| 25th percentile | $35,560 | $17.10 | $30,752 | $2,563 |
| Median (50th) | $37,910 | $18.23 | $32,641 | $2,720 |
| 75th percentile | $43,580 | $20.95 | $37,197 | $3,100 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,310 | $22.75 | $40,194 | $3,349 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,910 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, institution and cafeteria's $32,641 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,881 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Nashville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #11 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 11 | Nashville, TN | $37,910 | $32,641 | $33,881 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Nashville, TN?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $37,910 a year, or about $18.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,560 and $43,580.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $37,910 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $32,641 a year ($2,720 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,881 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #11 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $45,630
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,170
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,640
- Dishwasher — $34,380
- Cooks, Fast Food — $34,210
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,520
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,390
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,800
- Bartender — $28,190