Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria · Tennessee

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Tennessee

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $35,570 —5.0% below the national median of $37,450. That ranks TN #39 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$35,570
Median hourly
$17.10
Entry level (P10)
$27,830
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$45,430
90th percentile
Employment
10,680
3.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-5.0%
U.S. $37,450

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$27,830
$30,150
$35,570
$38,860
$27,830$35,570$45,430
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $35,570.

Employment is 1.15× as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$49,670$23.889,7800.97
2Alaska$48,580$23.361,4301.55
3Massachusetts$47,790$22.987,4300.72
4Hawaii$47,770$22.971,5700.88
5Rhode Island$46,570$22.391,1900.84
6California$46,390$22.3131,6600.61
7Vermont$46,370$22.291,3301.55
8Connecticut$46,120$22.174,5000.94
9New York$45,880$22.0617,6700.64
10District of Columbia$45,450$21.851,5000.75

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

OccupationTennessee medianU.S. median
Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,470$31,200
Waiters and Waitresses$27,760$35,230
Cooks, Restaurant$36,420$37,390
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,500$44,080
Food Preparation Workers$28,700$35,320
Bartenders$27,480$34,340

Frequently asked questions

How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Tennessee is $35,570, or $17.10 per hour. That is 5.0% below the national median of $37,450.

What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $27,830 per year ($13.38/hour). The 25th percentile is $30,150.

How many people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Tennessee?

About 10,680 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 3.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for cooks, institution and cafeteria?

Tennessee ranks #39 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.15x as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays cooks, institution and cafeteria the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $49,670 per year, followed by Alaska ($48,580) and Massachusetts ($47,790).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes