Chef and Head Cook Salary in Tennessee
Median annual pay in Tennessee
$69,810
$33.56/hour
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Adjusted for cost of living in Tennessee
$75,988
Regional Price Parity: 91.870 (U.S. = 100)
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Difference from the U.S. median ($62,470): +$7,340 (+11.7%)
Tennessee ranks 10th of 51 states by median pay, and 5th of 51 after adjusting for cost of living.
Pay
| Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| 25th percentile | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| Median | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| 75th percentile | $81,900 | $39.37 |
| 90th percentile | $98,860 | $47.53 |
Employment
- Employment in Tennessee
- 3,820
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Comparison
Compared with the U.S.
- Median annual pay in Tennessee
- $69,810
- Median annual pay in the U.S.
- $62,470
- Difference
- +$7,340 (+11.7%)
Cost of living
$69,810 ÷ 91.870 × 100 = $75,988
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Ranking
| Rank | Median annual pay | Adjusted for cost of living (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | ||
| 8th | $71,860 | $76,651 4th |
| New York | ||
| 9th | $70,670 | $65,483 19th |
| Tennessee This page | ||
| 10th | $69,810 | $75,988 5th |
| Massachusetts | ||
| 11th | $69,540 | $65,755 18th |
| Georgia | ||
| 12th | $66,230 | $68,780 11th |
Similar occupations
Related occupations from O*NET, in O*NET's order, with their BLS median pay. Each figure shows the place it is for.
- Baker salary in the U.S.
$37,160/year U.S.
- Food Service Manager salary in the U.S.
$69,390/year U.S.
- Waiter and Waitress salary in the U.S.
$35,230/year U.S.
- Dietetic Technician salary in the U.S.
$37,640/year U.S.
- Food Preparation Worker salary in the U.S.
$35,320/year U.S.
- Fast Food and Counter Worker salary in the U.S.
$31,200/year U.S.
Outlook
- Projected employment change, 2025–35 (U.S.)
- +6.6%
- Typical education needed for entry (U.S.)
- High school diploma or equivalent
BLS publishes employment projections only for the U.S. as a whole. BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35
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Chef and Head Cook salary in nearby places
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Alabama
$62,400/year Alabama
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Arkansas
$46,170/year Arkansas
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Georgia
$66,230/year Georgia
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Kentucky
$48,070/year Kentucky
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Mississippi
$54,850/year Mississippi
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Missouri
$64,480/year Missouri
- Chef and Head Cook salary in North Carolina
$61,130/year North Carolina
- Chef and Head Cook salary in Virginia
$63,270/year Virginia
- Chef and Head Cook salary in the U.S.
$62,470/year U.S.
Sources and update
- Wages and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
- Related occupations: O*NET® 31.0 Database, CC BY 4.0. Attributions
- Employment projections and typical education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Neighboring states: U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File, 2024.
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