Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › Tennessee
Cafeteria Cook Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$17.10 per hour · take-home ≈ $30,760/year ($2,563/month) for a single filer
Tennessee ranks 39th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 6% below the national average. Of the 10,680 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in Tennessee, the typical worker earns $35,570 a year — though pay ranges from $27,830 for newcomers to $45,430 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $27,830 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $30,150 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $35,570 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,860 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,430 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 10,680 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $35,570 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $30,760 — an effective tax rate of 13.5%.
| Gross (median) | $35,570 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,088 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,721 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $30,760 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,563 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in Tennessee?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in Tennessee is $35,570 per year ($17.10 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $30,150 and $38,860.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $35,570, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $30,760 per year ($2,563 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 13.5%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 10,680 Cafeteria Cook jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in Tennessee
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Tennessee state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Tennessee.