Cooks, Short Order Salary in Tennessee

Cooks, short order in Tennessee earn the most in Nashville (average $36,390 a year) and the least in Cleveland ($27,380), across the 8 Tennessee metro areas we cover. Statewide, BLS puts the cooks, short order average at $31,620 and the median at $30,210 for 2,510 workers. The U.S. average for this job is $36,120.

Cooks, Short Order average salary by city in Tennessee

Nashville$36,390
Memphis$31,080
Knoxville$30,880
Chattanooga$30,490
Kingsport$30,260
Clarksville$30,100
Johnson City$29,700
Cleveland$27,380

Pay, take-home pay and cost of living

City	Average	Median	25th pct.	Take-home*	Cost of living
Nashville	$36,390	$37,830	$31,300	$31,419	96
Memphis	$31,080	$29,880	$27,920	$27,153	92
Knoxville	$30,880	$30,210	$25,710	$26,992	93
Chattanooga	$30,490	$29,950	$24,710	$26,679	91
Kingsport	$30,260	$30,510	$26,740	$26,494	86
Clarksville	$30,100	$30,170	$24,210	$26,365	91
Johnson City	$29,700	$29,460	$27,600	$26,044	88
Cleveland	$27,380	$28,660	$21,330	$24,157	88

*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; Tennessee has no state income tax. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.

Cooks, Short Order salary in other states

Cooks, Short Order salary by city and state

More about pay in Tennessee

Sources and how to read this page

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2015.
U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.

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