Cook Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$17.51 per hour · take-home ≈ $31,443/year ($2,620/month) for a single filer
Cook pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $27,910 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $30,610 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,420 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $40,740 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,650 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 28,220 Cook jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 35-2014, “Cooks, Restaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Cook salary of $36,420 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 $31,443 — an effective tax rate of 13.7%.
| Gross (median) | $36,420 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,190 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,786 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $31,443 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,620 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cook make in Tennessee?
- The median Cook salary in Tennessee is $36,420 per year ($17.51 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $30,610 and $40,740.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cook in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $36,420, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $31,443 per year ($2,620 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 13.7%.
- How many Cook jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 28,220 Cook jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for 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.