Cook salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in Tennessee earns a median of $28,330 a year ($13.62/hour equivalent), 8.3% below the national median of $30,890. Tennessee ranks #38 of 51 states. About 14,020 people do this job in Tennessee.
Take-home pay in Tennessee
At the Tennessee median, a single filer keeps about $24,940 a year after federal, FICA and Tennessee taxes — $959 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,089.62
- Federal income tax
- −$47.04
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$67.56
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$15.80
- Tennessee income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $959.22
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $28,330
- Federal
- $1,223
- FICA
- $2,167
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $24,940
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Tennessee compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $48,120 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| #3 | California | $42,050 |
| #4 | Washington | $39,120 |
| #5 | New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| #38 | Tennessee | $28,330 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $23,500 |
| #50 | West Virginia | $23,120 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $22,670 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 35-2011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in Tennessee?
The median salary is $28,330 a year and the average is $29,480 (BLS May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for cooks?
Tennessee ranks #38 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 8% below the national median of $30,890.
What is $28,330 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $24,940 a year ($959 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.