Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chattanooga, TN-GA

Median annual salary $26,680 -11.5% vs national
Median hourly $12.83
10th percentile $17,640
90th percentile $35,130
Employed locally 1,040
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $17,640
    25th
    $22,370
    50th (median)
    $26,680
    75th
    $29,710
    90th
    $35,130

    Chattanooga economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,666 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 39% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 61% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $31,650
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $28,290
    Morristown, TN $27,370
    Jackson, TN $27,250
    Knoxville, TN $26,760
    Johnson City, TN $26,660

    Related occupations in Chattanooga, TN-GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $27,160
    Waiters and Waitresses $26,210
    Cooks, Restaurant $35,220
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $36,820
    Food Preparation Workers $27,360
    Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop $27,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Chattanooga?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $12.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $17.03 or more per hour.

    Is Chattanooga above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 11.5% below the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Chattanooga?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $17,640 per year in Chattanooga, TN-GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $22,370.