Salaries › Fast Food Cook › Tennessee
Fast Food Cook Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$13.62 per hour · take-home ≈ $24,940/year ($2,078/month) for a single filer
Tennessee ranks 38th of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 11% below the national average. Of the 14,020 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in Tennessee, the typical worker earns $28,330 a year — though pay ranges from $20,380 for newcomers to $38,330 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $20,380 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $24,550 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $28,330 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $34,780 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $38,330 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 14,020 Fast Food Cook jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $28,330 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 $24,940 — an effective tax rate of 12.0%.
| Gross (median) | $28,330 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,223 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,167 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $24,940 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,078 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Cook make in Tennessee?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in Tennessee is $28,330 per year ($13.62 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $24,550 and $34,780.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $28,330, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $24,940 per year ($2,078 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 12.0%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 14,020 Fast Food Cook jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food 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.