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Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

In the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $38,200 ($18.37/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,300/year and the 90th was $47,900/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $32,874 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 96.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$38,200$18.37 per hour · $3,183 monthly
10th Percentile$29,300$14.09/hr base
25th Percentile$32,100$15.43/hr base
75th Percentile$42,700$20.53/hr base
90th Percentile$47,900$23.03/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 payWhat $38,000 a year leaves after tax in TennesseeFederal tax, FICA and Tennessee withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$18 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $38,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $38,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation Tennessee publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about Tennessee.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$38,200
$15,000$80,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$38,200
Net 86%
Fed 6%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$32,874After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,739Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,264Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate13.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,404 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,922 / yr
Customize deductions in full Tennessee calculator

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (TN)
10th Percentile$14.09/hr$2,442$29,300$25,723
25th Percentile$15.43/hr$2,675$32,100$27,972
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$18.37/hr$3,183$38,200$32,874
75th Percentile$20.53/hr$3,558$42,700$36,489
90th Percentile$23.03/hr$3,992$47,900$40,668

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$38,200 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$85,447Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index96.33.7% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio44.7%of area median income

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

Compare markets

Cooks, Restaurant pay in other Tennessee metros

These metro areas are in the same state and closest in population to Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN. Compare their wage distributions before using a statewide average.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is $38,200, which equates to approximately $3,183 per month or $18.37 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN is $18.37 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $14.09/hour and one in ten earned more than $23.03/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN span from $29,300 at the 10th percentile to $32,100 at the 25th, $42,700 at the 75th, and $47,900 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

On a median gross salary of $38,200, an estimated $32,874 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,264 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $5,326 (an effective rate of 13.9%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

On the median annual salary of $38,200, gross monthly income is $3,183. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,739 per month (or $1,264 every two weeks).

Is $38,200 a good salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?

At $38,200, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 44.7% of the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN median household income ($85,447). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 96.3, making regional consumer goods and services 3.7% cheaper than the U.S. average.