Chattanooga, TN-GA · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA

In the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,100 ($16.39/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $22,900/year and the 90th was $41,000/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Georgia tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,626 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 91.5 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,100$16.39 per hour · $2,842 monthly
10th Percentile$22,900$11.01/hr base
25th Percentile$27,700$13.32/hr base
75th Percentile$35,900$17.26/hr base
90th Percentile$41,000$19.71/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$34,100
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,100
Net 84%
Fed 6%
GA 3%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,626After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,386Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,101Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.1%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$1,912 / yr
Georgia state income tax$953 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,609 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Chattanooga, TN-GA

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Chattanooga, TN-GA Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (GA)
10th Percentile$11.01/hr$1,908$22,900$20,074
25th Percentile$13.32/hr$2,308$27,700$23,787
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.39/hr$2,842$34,100$28,626
75th Percentile$17.26/hr$2,992$35,900$29,983
90th Percentile$19.71/hr$3,417$41,000$33,826

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Chattanooga, TN-GA

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,100 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$72,161Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index91.58.5% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio47.3%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Georgia:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Chattanooga, TN-GA

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $34,100, which equates to approximately $2,842 per month or $16.39 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $16.39 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $11.01/hour and one in ten earned more than $19.71/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Chattanooga, TN-GA span from $22,900 at the 10th percentile to $27,700 at the 25th, $35,900 at the 75th, and $41,000 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

On a median gross salary of $34,100, an estimated $28,626 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,101 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Georgia in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,474 (an effective rate of 16.1%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

On the median annual salary of $34,100, gross monthly income is $2,842. After federal, FICA, and Georgia state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,386 per month (or $1,101 every two weeks).

Is $34,100 a good salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA?

At $34,100, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 47.3% of the Chattanooga, TN-GA median household income ($72,161). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 91.5, making regional consumer goods and services 8.5% cheaper than the U.S. average.