Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Nashville, TN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $38,170 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,850 take-home, or $2,737 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,400
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,367
- Medicare (1.45%)$553
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,850
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,360 | $14.12 | $25,771 | $2,148 |
| 25th percentile | $35,560 | $17.10 | $30,752 | $2,563 |
| Median (50th) | $38,170 | $18.35 | $32,850 | $2,737 |
| 75th percentile | $44,660 | $21.47 | $38,064 | $3,172 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,180 | $22.68 | $40,089 | $3,341 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,170 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, restaurant's $32,850 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,098 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, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Nashville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #12 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 12 | Nashville, TN | $38,170 | $32,850 | $34,098 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Knoxville, TN — $36,520
- Memphis, TN — $36,340
- Chattanooga, TN — $36,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Nashville, TN?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $38,170 a year, or about $18.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,560 and $44,660.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $38,170 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $32,850 a year ($2,737 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,098 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #12 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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, restaurant’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, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,910
- 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