Chefs and Head Cooks Salary
Chefs and Head Cooks in Tennessee make a median of $69,810 a year, or about $33.56 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $77,757 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 25.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in Tennessee?
About chefs and head cooks
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for chefs and head cooks, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level chefs and head cooks (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $70K | +1% | 1,780 |
| Jackson | $69K | -1% | 60 |
| Memphis | $66K | -5% | 540 |
| Chattanooga | $64K | -9% | 280 |
| Knoxville | $63K | -10% | 470 |
| Cleveland | $62K | -11% | 30 |
| Morristown | $61K | -12% | 30 |
| Clarksville | $61K | -13% | 100 |
| Johnson City | $60K | -14% | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $55K | -21% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track chefs and head cooks salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
Can a chefs and head cook afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 25.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chefs and head cooks in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chefs and head cooks typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,725/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chefs and head cook a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $70K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for chefs and head cooks?
Tennessee pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Tennessee?
The median is $69,810 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,410, and experienced chefs and head cooks can clear $98,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,792/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 25.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chefs and head cooks salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chefs and head cooks salary is worth about $77,757 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chefs and head cooks get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.